August 21, 2026 · Immigrant visas / State Department / Federal court ruling
Federal judge vacates State Department’s 75-country immigrant-visa issuance pause
A federal judge in Manhattan vacated the State Department policy that had paused immigrant-visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries since January 21. The court held that the blanket policy exceeded the Secretary of State’s statutory authority and conflicted with federal immigration law. The ruling addresses the 75-country public-charge-related issuance pause; it does not by itself erase separate visa restrictions imposed under presidential proclamations or resolve any later appeal.
Open the full dated evidence record →