Lawsuit challenges Trump’s journey ban on 39 nations

The lawsuit in opposition to secretary of state Marco Rubio and the state division at massive alleges the administration’s suspension of visa processing for nationals of close to 40 nations beneath the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is illegal.  

The plaintiffs argue the INA permits the president to limit immigrants from getting into the US however that it doesn’t allow the state division to halt visa processing “because of the person’s race, sex, nationality, place of birth, or place of residence”. 

The case claims the state division’s implementation of Trump’s proclamations is “in excess” of its authority and violates US legislation which “does not permit [the] defendant to suspend the issuance of visas or deprive consular officers” of such powers.  

The lawsuit pertains to Trump’s June 4 and December 16 proclamations, which collectively prohibited the entry of nationals from 39 nations and the Palestinian Authority into the US, with each directives claiming to guard America from nationwide safety and public security threats.  

The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration advocacy group mentioned it was “encouraged” by the authorized problem however that it was too early to foretell the end result.  

“The travel ban has created immediate uncertainty for students, scholars, and other campus community members and their families, and it has effectively closed the door on talented individuals from the impacted countries who want to study in the US,” mentioned Zuzana Cepla Wootson, deputy director of federal coverage at the Alliance. 

She emphasised the “chilling effect” of the ban unfold far past the nations on the checklist, labelling the coverage a “self-inflicted wound” that instantly undermined US financial competitiveness.  

The preliminary ban, introduced in June 2025, set full journey restrictions on nationals from 12 nations, subjecting an extra seven to partial restrictions.  

The chilling of this coverage impact extends far past the nations on the checklist

Zuzana Cepla Wootson, Presidents’ Alliance

In December 2025, the administration added an extra 20 nations and the Palestinian Authority to the checklist, with worldwide college students and change guests included in each full and partial bans. 

State division spokesperson Tommy Pigott mentioned each visa resolution was a nationwide safety resolution, including the company was “implementing the necessary procedures and vetting standards to best protect the American people”. 

The plaintiffs within the case hail from 12 affected nations, with Iran and Syria probably the most represented nations. All the complainants have seen their visa functions refused, paused, or indefinitely positioned in “administrative processing”, the lawsuit outlines.  

They are calling on the choose to halt the state division’s sweeping suspension of visa issuance to nationals of the affected nations and order the fast issuance of visas to plaintiffs who’ve been accepted however who haven’t acquired their visas.  

For these whose functions had been denied, paused, or who’re ready for interviews, the case urges that appointments are expedited and paperwork re-issued.