ByStuart Anderson,
Senior Contributor.
The Trump administration will allow 17 Iranians with visas to enter the United States to address an immigration lawsuit challenging U.S. President Donald Trump’s proclamation banning entry by individuals from multiple countries. The administration may have acted to “moot” an appeal to the ban and the State Department’s policy of refusing to issue visas to nationals of the countries listed in the proclamation.
On June 4, 2025, Donald Trump issued a proclamation banning immigrant and temporary visas from 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Burma, Iran and others. The proclamation contained more extensive prohibitions for seven of the 19 countries. Then a later proclamation in December expanded the visa categories for the 19 countries and denied the entry of individuals from 20 additional nations. These 17 Iranians are hoping to challenge the new policy in court, an issue that feels especially crucial to many Iranians now considering emigration in the wake of violent government crackdowns on peaceful protests. The case will apply to visa applicants from all other restricted nations as well.
Shortly after the June proclamation, the State Department sent guidance to consular posts that stated any applicants “must be refused” a visa if they are not qualified for one of the proclamation’s limited exceptions. Then, on August 21, U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan issued an opinion in Thein v. Trump granting in part and denying in part the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction.
