US court nullifies Trump’s visa ban on Nigeria, 74 other countries
By Ojochenemi Onje, Abuja
A United States federal judge has struck down a visa policy introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration that suspended immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Nigeria, ruling that the measure was contrary to law.
The ruling, issued on Friday in New York by Jeannette Vargas, US District Judge , found that Marco Rubio, Secretary of State exceeded his statutory authority by directing consular officers to refuse immigrant visas based solely on an applicant’s nationality.
Vargas said the administration could not lawfully impose a blanket restriction on visa issuance by country of origin without the authority granted under existing immigration law.
