U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan has ruled that the State Department may not use the Trump-era travel ban to deny immigrant visas to applicants whose cases were placed on hold under the policy. The administration has claimed judicial overreach, while immigration attorneys have urged a less restrictive review. The ruling directs the State Department to process affected visas without invoking the ban.

Immigration attorney Curtis Morrison stated, “Now, let’s hope when it’s time for the Trump administration to review the ban at the 90-day mark they do that in good faith, and it leads to a less restrictive ban that will allow plaintiffs with issued immigrant visas to immigrate the US and start their lives here.”

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said, “Another example of wrongful judicial overreach aimed at curtailing this Administration’s strong and unwavering efforts to keep Americans and our communities safe.”

Let me fix that for you: You’ll continue your strong and unwavering efforts to abuse immigrants and to make a mockery of the rule of law.

Pigott added, “We will continue to relentlessly work to ensure the President of the United States is able to use every tool he has available, including visas, to finally bring oversight to who we allow to visit our country.”

Sooknanan noted that the legal framework for the travel ban does not allow the State Department to reject visas outright. The Trump administration has maintained the measures are necessary for national security.

Sooknanan wrote, “That provision authorizes the President, subject to specified limitations, to ‘suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate.’”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) retains authority to deny entry to visa holders, further limiting immigration options. The State Department is now under pressure to process applications prior to the September 30, 2025 fiscal deadline.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-suffers-legal-blow-over-travel-ban/ss-AA1LvWSS