A United States federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy that suspended the processing of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, including Nigeria, ruling that the measure exceeded the legal authority of the Secretary of State and violated federal immigration law .
The policy, which took effect on January 21, 2026, had barred the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from the affected countries on the grounds that they were at a “high risk of becoming a public charge” and relying on US government assistance .
However, US District Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York ruled on Friday that the blanket suspension was “patently unlawful” and contradicted the Immigration and Nationality Act, which gives consular officers exclusive authority to determine visa eligibility on a case-by-case basis .
“The Policy, which categorically prohibits the issuance of immigrant visas based upon the nationality of the applicant, represents a direct abrogation of this statutory scheme,” Vargas wrote in her ruling .
The case was brought by two immigrant rights organisations, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together, along with several individual plaintiffs, including US citizens sponsoring family members from the affected countries .
Anna Gallagher, executive director of CLINIC, welcomed the decision. “We welcome this ruling because, at its heart, this case is about keeping families together,” she said .
The 75 countries covered by the visa suspension, including Nigeria, are listed below in alphabetical order :
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
The State Department has not yet commented on the ruling, and the Trump administration may still appeal the decision .
