US Federal Judge Strikes Down Visa Ban Impacting 75 Countries Including 26 African Nations

A US federal judge has overturned a visa ban that suspended immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, including 26 African nations.

Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York declared the policy implemented on January 21, 2026, "patently unlawful," stating that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his authority by issuing the ban.

Scope of the Ban

The visa suspension affected countries across Africa such as Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It also included nations from Latin America, the Middle East, South Asia, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe.

Legal Findings

Judge Vargas ruled that consular officers were wrongly instructed to deny visas based solely on applicants' nationality, ignoring individual merit and qualifications. The ruling emphasized that the policy violated legal requirements for case-by-case assessments and rejected the administration’s claim that applicants from these countries posed a high risk of becoming public charges.

The decision cancels visa denials made solely under this policy and may lead to the review of thousands of previous applications.

Background and Reactions

• The ban was part of a broader immigration crackdown aiming to reduce welfare dependency and unauthorized immigration.
• Immigrant rights groups, including Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together, challenged the policy in court.
• Plaintiffs included US citizens and professionals from affected countries who faced visa denials.
• The ruling was welcomed by immigration advocates as a major victory against discriminatory visa restrictions.

The administration may appeal the ruling to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.