US court overturns Trump visa restrictions affecting Nigeria, 74 others

A United States District Court in Manhattan has struck down the Trump administration’s policy suspending immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Nigeria, according to Vanguard.

U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled the January directive “patently unlawful,” saying it exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statutory authority. The policy had barred visa issuance on grounds that applicants risked becoming a “public charge.”

The suit was filed by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together, along with affected sponsors and applicants. The State Department had defended the suspension as part of enhanced screening procedures.