A United States federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy that stopped immigrant visas from being issued to nationals of 75 countries, including 26 in Africa.
US District Judge Jeannette Vargas issued the ruling in Manhattan on Friday, 21 August, finding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded the powers granted to him under federal immigration law.
According to the State Department’s official list, the African countries covered by the policy were Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia and Uganda.
The ruling could reopen immigrant visa consideration for families and workers from those countries, but it does not guarantee approval or immediate issuance.
The Associated Press reported that Vargas vacated the policy after concluding that it was contrary to the law and exceeded the secretary of state’s statutory authority.
