Federal Court Strikes Down Trump Administration Discriminatory 75-Country Visa Ban after Catholic Group Legal Challenge

CLINIC Welcomes Federal Court Decision Vacating Discriminatory 75-Country Visa Ban
August 22, 2026
The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), welcomes a federal court ruling in CLINIC v. Rubio vacating the Trump administration’s blanket suspension of immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, a policy that disrupted lawful immigration pathways and separated families around the world.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York found that the nationality-based policy exceeded the secretary of state’s statutory and regulatory authority and violated the Immigration and Nationality Act’s prohibition against discrimination based on nationality in the issuance of immigrant visas.

In striking down the policy, the court reaffirmed a fundamental principle of immigration law: immigrant visa applicants must be judged on their individual eligibility, not their nationality.

The court vacated the policy and set aside visa refusals made solely on its basis, clearing the way for applicants to once again receive the individualized consideration required under federal law.

“We welcome this ruling because, at its heart, this case is about keeping families together,” said Anna Gallagher, executive director of CLINIC. “The suspension of lawful visa issuance across 75 countries separated spouses, parents and children who were simply following the legal immigration process. Catholic social teaching calls us to uphold the dignity of every person and recognize the family as the foundation of society. Today’s decision affirms both those values and the rule of law, allowing families to once again move forward toward reunification.”

The ruling is an important victory for families who faced prolonged uncertainty and separation because of a policy that treated applicants differently based on their country of origin rather than their individual circumstances.

CLINIC thanks the individual plaintiffs who came forward to challenge this unlawful policy, as well as our litigation partners at the National Immigration Law Center, Democracy Forward, The Legal Aid Society, Western Center on Law & Poverty, Center for Constitutional Rights, and Colombo & Hurd for their dedicated advocacy.

CLINIC remains committed to defending a fair and lawful immigration system that respects human dignity, protects family unity and ensures that people navigating legal immigration pathways receive the individualized consideration guaranteed to them under the law.