US court blocks Trump visa suspension for 75 nations

A U.S. federal judge on Friday invalidated a Trump administration policy that suspended immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, determining that the measure exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statutory authority.

The judicial decision marks a significant setback for the administration's immigration enforcement agenda. The court found that the suspension policy was not justified under existing legal frameworks governing the State Department's visa authority.

The ruling addresses the scope of executive power in immigration matters, particularly regarding the Secretary of State's ability to restrict visa processing on a blanket, country-based basis. Legal experts have indicated that such broad suspensions typically require explicit congressional authorization or must fall within narrowly defined emergency provisions.

The decision is likely to face appeals, as the Trump administration has prioritized stricter immigration policies. The case reflects ongoing tensions between executive immigration enforcement efforts and judicial review of their legal foundations.

Immigrant visa applications from the affected nations can now resume processing, pending any appeal of the court's decision. The ruling underscores the judiciary's role in constraining executive authority even during heightened immigration enforcement campaigns.