Signal Federal judge strikes down Trump policy suspending immigrant visas from 75 countries

Summary

U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York vacated, on Friday August 21, 2026, a Trump administration policy that had suspended processing of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia. The administration had justified the suspension on the grounds that nationals of these countries were likely to require public assistance in the United States. Judge Vargas, a Biden appointee, ruled the policy was contrary to law and exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio's authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act, also finding it violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the INA's anti-discrimination provisions. Fox News reported the judge characterized the policy as "Orwellian" in her ruling. The decision reinstates visa processing evaluations for nationals of the affected countries. The case is one of several ongoing legal challenges to Trump administration immigration restrictions in 2026.