Trump administration's 75-country visa ban was illegal, judge rules

A U.S. federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration’s policy of pausing visa issuances for citizens of 75 countries was illegal. In a 61-page decision, U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the administration’s actions were contrary to law and exceeded the legal authority granted to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The policy had been implemented based on the administration's assessment that applicants from these nations were likely to require public assistance.

The ruling effectively invalidates the restriction, which had halted visa processing for the affected countries. The court found that the policy amounted to illegal discrimination based on nationality, marking a significant legal setback for the administration's immigration enforcement efforts.