Kathmandu— A federal judge in New York has overturned a Trump administration policy that suspended the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, citing an overreach of executive power. U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled Friday that the policy – which targeted nations including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia based on concerns about potential reliance on public assistance – was “contrary to law” and violated the Immigration and Nationality Act by circumventing established visa eligibility criteria and the authority of consular officers. The decision follows a challenge brought by nonprofit organizations and individuals impacted by the ban, effectively reinstating access to visas for those previously affected.

Policy Challenged as Illegal Overreach

Judge Vargas determined that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his statutory authority when implementing the policy. She argued that it improperly mandated visa denials based solely on nationality, directly contradicting congressional intent which vests consular officers with the exclusive discretion to assess individual eligibility according to specific legal standards. “Congress imbued these officers with exclusive authority and discretion,” she wrote in her ruling, emphasizing that the policy represented a “direct abrogation of this statutory scheme.”

Plaintiffs Celebrate Ruling

The challenge was brought by two nonprofit organizations – CLINIC and African Communities Together – along with eleven individuals whose families had been impacted. Anna Gallagher, executive director of CLINIC, welcomed the ruling as a victory for family reunification, stating that “Catholic social teaching calls us to uphold the dignity of every person and recognize the family as the foundation of society.” Diana Konate, deputy executive director for policy and advocacy at African Communities Together, described the decision as “a tremendous victory for the rule of law,” adding that the ban had caused “immeasurable harm” by keeping families apart.

Trump Administration Defended Restrictions

The Trump administration had broadened its anti-immigration agenda with a series of travel and visa restrictions targeting individuals from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In response to the ruling, the State Department defended the policy as a measure to “protect the American people” through rigorous vetting processes, but declined to comment on pending litigation. Prior to issuing the policy, the State Department cited data suggesting that over 30 percent of households with immigrants from the targeted countries received some form of public assistance.

Part of Broader Trend of Court Rejections

This ruling is consistent with a pattern of court decisions striking down elements of former President Trump’s immigration policies. In June, another federal judge invalidated a policy that complicated entry and stay for immigrants from numerous countries, impacting asylum claims, work permits, and green card applications. That judge similarly criticized the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for disregarding legal requirements and creating “indeterminate legal limbo” for affected individuals.

The ruling effectively ends the visa suspension for citizens of the 75 listed countries, allowing those with pending petitions or who were previously denied visas to reapply under standard procedures.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.