A federal judge in New York declared the suspension of the permanent residency visa agreement for 75 countries illegal.

Judge Jeannette Vargas from the New York court announced on Friday that the suspension of the permanent residency visa, imposed in January by the Trump administration, is illegal. This measure affects citizens from 75 countries, including Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen. The judge determined that the measure violates the law and was taken beyond the legal powers of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The decision emphasizes that the State Department considered that immigrants from these countries pose a high risk of becoming a burden on public finances, however, consular officials were instructed to deny visas even if the applicant met the requirements. The ruling cancels all visa denials based on this policy, providing a new opportunity for affected applicants.