US Judge Strikes Down Visa Ban On 75 Countries
A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration's ban on issuing visas to immigrants from 75 countries is 'contrary to law', potentially affecting thousands of old visa applications
A US federal judge has struck down the Trump administration's ban on issuing visas to immigrants from 75 countries, finding it to be 'contrary to law' and beyond the legal authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The ban, which was billed as a 'pause' due to concerns that immigrants from the targeted countries were likely to draw public benefits and become 'a financial burden to Americans', has been deemed unlawful.
The policy, which took effect in January, was found to be in violation of a statute that requires individualised assessments of visa applicants. Instead, US officials were ordered to refuse visas to eligible immigrants who were likely to be self-sufficient. The countries affected by the regulation include Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Jordan, Egypt, Ghana, Jamaica, Guatemala, and Ethiopia.
The majority of the 75 countries on the State Department's list are non-European and have significant non-white populations. The plaintiffs in the case include six US citizens and five professionals from Colombia, who claim that the administration's ban kept their relatives from receiving visas.
## What happens next The ruling may require the review of thousands of old visa applications that were denied based solely on the policy. This could potentially lead to a significant number of visa applications being re-evaluated.
## Why it matters The Trump administration's aggressive immigration crackdown has been a contentious issue, with the President claiming it is aimed at improving domestic security. However, critics argue that the policies are discriminatory and unfair. The ruling is a significant setback for the administration's efforts to restrict immigration, and may have implications for future policy decisions.
The case is a reminder of the ongoing debate over immigration in the US, with the Supreme Court having upheld the third iteration of President Donald Trump's travel ban in 2018. The latest ruling highlights the importance of individualised assessments in the visa application process, and the need for policies to be based on lawful authority.
