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ARTICLE · 27 AUGUST 2026

Federal Court Suspends State Department’s Immigrant Visa Ban Affecting 75 Countries

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A federal court has struck down a Department of State policy that suspended immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries based on generalized public charge concerns. The ruling requires individualized assessment of visa applications rather than blanket nationality-based restrictions, potentially affecting thousands of pending immigrant visa cases.

GlobalImmigration
Natalie Gorelishvili
Natalie Gorelishvili

On Aug. 21, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a decision in Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), et al. v. Rubio, striking down a Department of State policy that suspended immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries based on generalized public charge concerns and vacated the policy.

Background

In January 2026, the Department of State announced a policy directing U.S. consular officers to refuse immigrant visas to nationals of 75 designated countries. The policy was based on concerns that individuals from those countries were more likely to rely on public benefits in the United States. As a result, applicants could be denied immigrant visas regardless of their personal circumstances or whether they were otherwise eligible for visa issuance.

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