U.S. Court Blocks Suspension of Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries, Citing "Violation of Law"

[Financial News] A federal court in the United States has blocked the Donald Trump administration's move to suspend immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries. It also ruled that visa denials issued on the basis of the policy were invalid.
The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 21st, local time, that the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York had ruled that the U.S. Department of State's restrictions on immigrant visa issuance violated the law.
The court said there was not enough evidence to support the administration's claim that immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries could become a financial burden on Americans. It also found that guidance directing officials to deny visas even to applicants likely to support themselves violated the law's requirement for individual review of each applicant.
The court also ruled that all visa denials made under the policy were invalid. As a result, visa applications processed so far may need to be reviewed again.
In January, the Trump administration announced that it would suspend immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, saying they were likely to depend on U.S. welfare benefits. The list included Somalia, Haiti and Iran, as well as Russia, Brazil and Colombia. U.S. allies Jordan and Egypt were also included.
U.S. civic groups filed lawsuits, calling the move an attempt to undermine a long-standing immigration system. A lawyer for the plaintiffs described the ruling as an important victory for hundreds of thousands of families around the world who had been thrown into confusion by the administration's discriminatory visa ban.
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and The White House did not issue separate statements on the ruling.
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