Celebrate the Court for Striking Down Trump’s Visa Ban

A federal judge has struck down the Trump administration’s sweeping ban on immigrant visas for people from 75 countries, ruling that the policy violated federal immigration law by discriminating against applicants based solely on their nationality.

The administration had halted immigrant visas for citizens of countries including Brazil, Afghanistan, and Yemen, claiming people from those nations were more likely to need public assistance. The ban applied even when individual applicants had already been evaluated and found likely to support themselves.

U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the policy violated the Immigration and Nationality Act, which prohibits nationality-based discrimination in issuing immigrant visas. She vacated the ban and set aside visa denials that had been based solely on the unlawful policy.

That decision matters for families who were separated while trying to immigrate through legal channels. Spouses, parents, children, workers, and other applicants deserve to have their cases considered individually under the law—not rejected simply because of the country printed on their passport.

No administration should be allowed to disregard protections established by Congress or substitute sweeping discrimination for fair, case-by-case consideration.

Add your name to celebrate Judge Jeannette Vargas for striking down Trump’s unlawful 75-country visa ban, defending equal treatment under the law, and protecting families pursuing legal immigration.