Agadir – A US federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy that suspended immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Morocco, ruling that the measure exceeded the legal authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
US District Judge Jeannette Vargas issued the ruling Friday in Manhattan, finding that the policy announced by the State Department in January was “patently unlawful” and conflicted with federal immigration law.
Vargas said the policy unlawfully prevented the issuance of immigrant visas based solely on applicants’ nationality, arguing that Congress had established a statutory framework governing the processing of immigrant visas that the Secretary of State could not override.
“The Policy, which categorically prohibits the issuance of immigrant visas based upon the nationality of the applicant, represents a direct abrogation of this statutory scheme,” Vargas wrote, according to Reuters.
Morocco among 75 affected countries
Morocco was among the 75 countries affected by the suspension, which took effect on January 21 as part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown.
The measure affected countries across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Balkans, and South Asia. The list also included Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay.
The State Department said at the time that immigrant visa processing for nationals of the designated countries would be paused while it conducted a review of immigration procedures.
The suspension applied specifically to immigrant visas, which are used by foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the United States. It did not affect US visitor visas, an important distinction as the country hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is preparing to host the 2028 Olympics.
Court challenges Trump’s immigration policy
Vargas’s decision followed a lawsuit brought by immigrant rights organizations, including the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together, as well as immigrant visa applicants and US citizens sponsoring family members from countries subject to the suspension.
The ruling represents a legal setback for the Trump administration, which has pursued a broad immigration crackdown since returning to office in January.
The administration has argued that stricter immigration policies are necessary to strengthen national security and prevent migrants from becoming dependent on US government benefits. Rights groups, meanwhile, have challenged several elements of the crackdown, arguing that some measures violate due process and other legal protections.
