A federal district court in New York has struck down a Trump administration policy that had suspended immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, in a major ruling with direct consequences for tens of thousands of people waiting on green cards and family-based immigration.

According to the court opinion published by the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas vacated the policy on August 21, 2026, finding it "contrary to law and in excess of statutory authority."

Key Points

  • What: A federal court vacated the State Department's blanket suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and Somalia.
  • Who: Foreign nationals from the 75 designated countries seeking immigrant visas, and U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents sponsoring family members from those countries.
  • When: The ruling was issued August 21, 2026; it is unclear when the State Department will resume visa processing — watch for further updates.
  • Impact: Visa denials issued solely under this blanket ban have been vacated, meaning affected applicants may have a path to resume processing.

What Happened

On January 14, 2026, the Department of State announced it would suspend immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026. The stated rationale, per the court opinion, was that these nationals posed a high risk of relying on public benefits — a so-called "public charge" concern.

Critically, the policy was categorical. Consular officers were directed to refuse immigrant visas to nationals of the listed countries even if the officer had already conducted an individualized assessment and determined the applicant was not likely to become a public charge and was otherwise eligible for the visa. AP News reported that Secretary Rubio exceeded his authority by mandating this outcome regardless of individual circumstances.

The court held that this policy "runs afoul" of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) — the federal law governing visa processing — and specifically violates Section 1152(a)(1)(A) of the INA, which prohibits nationality-based discrimination in immigrant visa issuance. The NILC case page notes the court also vacated and set aside any visa denial issued solely on the basis of this ban.

Why This Matters for Visa Holders and Families

This ruling directly affects anyone whose immigrant visa application was denied under this blanket policy. It does not affect nonimmigrant visas (like H-1B, F-1, or B-1/B-2 visitor visas), which are a separate category.

For employment-based green card applicants from any of the 75 designated countries — including those who transitioned from F-1 or H-1B status — this ruling could mean their cases can move forward again.

For U.S. citizens who filed I-130 family-based petitions for relatives from designated countries, consular processing may now resume, though the State Department has not yet issued public guidance on next steps.

It is important to note that the Trump administration may appeal this ruling, which could affect whether and how quickly visa processing actually resumes. That outcome is not yet known.

What You Should Do

  • If your immigrant visa was denied solely because of this blanket nationality-based policy, consult an immigration attorney immediately. The court order vacating those denials may entitle you to have your case reconsidered.
  • If you have a pending immigrant visa application from one of the 75 countries, monitor communications from your consulate and watch for updated State Department guidance.
  • If you are sponsoring a family member from a designated country, check with your immigration attorney about whether your case can be reactivated.
  • Do not assume processing has automatically resumed. The State Department must implement the court's order, and an appeal is possible. Legal advice specific to your case is essential.
  • This ruling does not affect nonimmigrant visa categories such as H-1B, F-1, or OPT. Those processes remain unchanged by this decision.