WASHINGTON — A U.S. federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy that suspended the processing of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, including Somalia, ruling that the measure exceeded the legal authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan ruled on Friday that the policy was contrary to federal immigration law. She said the blanket suspension unlawfully prevented consular officers from making individual decisions based on applicants’ circumstances and instead imposed restrictions largely on the basis of nationality.
The State Department introduced the suspension in January, affecting applicants from countries across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, South Asia and the Balkans. Somalia was among the countries included in the measure. The administration had argued that applicants from the affected countries were considered at higher risk of becoming dependent on public assistance in the United States.
Judge Vargas said immigration law requires consular officers to assess visa applicants individually, rather than categorically blocking immigrant visas based on nationality. Her ruling therefore removes the legal basis for the 75-country suspension, although the U.S. government could seek to challenge the decision.
The ruling is significant for Somali applicants and families seeking to reunite in the United States. However, it does not mean that every Somali citizen can automatically enter the United States or receive a visa; applicants must still meet the applicable immigration and visa requirements and undergo the normal consular process.
The decision also comes amid heightened attention to U.S. immigration restrictions following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was previously denied entry to the United States in connection with his expected refereeing duties.
