Judge Vacates Trump Visa Ban; Trump Fights BBC Subpoena for Family Records

A federal judge in New York has invalidated a Trump administration policy that suspended the processing of immigrant visas for individuals from 75 nations. U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas, a Biden appointee, ruled on Friday, August 21, 2026, that the policy was "contrary to law and in excess of statutory authority," arguing that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his power in issuing the directive. The judge further stated that the ban, which targeted countries based on the perceived likelihood of their nationals becoming "public charges" or for security concerns, violated the Immigration and Nationality Act by mandating visa refusals without legal basis and undermining the authority of consular officers. The ruling, which came in response to a lawsuit by two nonprofit organizations and 11 individuals, mandates that the State Department resume processing these visas through lawful, case-by-case evaluations.

Separately, former President Donald Trump is currently challenging a request by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to obtain testimony and records from three of his family members. The BBC is seeking information from Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Donald Trump Jr. as part of its defense in a $10 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Trump. Trump's lawsuit alleges that the BBC deceptively edited his January 6, 2021 speech and aired a documentary before the 2024 election to undermine him. His legal team contends that the BBC's subpoenas for family records are an attempt to gain "politically-driven leverage" and are "improperly overbroad." U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Kuntz in Miami has not yet issued a decision on the BBC's request.