A US federal judge in Manhattan has struck down the Trump administration’s policy suspending immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Nigeria, seven months after the policy took effect.
US District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the policy was unlawful, finding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his statutory authority by directing consular officers to suspend immigrant visa processing based largely on applicants’ nationality.
The policy, introduced in January 2026, affected countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, the Caribbean and the Balkans. The Trump administration had justified the suspension on concerns that immigrants from the affected countries could become dependent on public assistance in the United States.
Judge Vargas ruled that the blanket suspension conflicted with the Immigration and Nationality Act, which requires visa eligibility to be assessed on an individual basis. She therefore vacated the policy and set aside visa denials issued solely under the suspended programme.
For Nigerians seeking US immigrant visas, the ruling represents a major reprieve, as applications can now be considered under the normal case-by-case immigration process, subject to existing eligibility, security and other requirements.
However, the ruling does not automatically guarantee visa approval for affected applicants, and the US government could still appeal the decision.
The case was brought by immigrant-rights groups, affected applicants and US citizens sponsoring relatives, who challenged the legality of the nationality-based suspension.