Federal judge strikes down Rubio's visa freeze as 'Orwellian,' invalidates Trump-era policy

A federal judge struck down a visa freeze imposed by former President Trump's administration on immigrant visas from 75 countries, ruling that Secretary of State Marco Rubio lacked the legal authority to order denials for applications. The policy, which was aimed at increasing security measures for immigrants, was deemed 'Orwellian' by the judge. As a result, applicants from those 75 countries can now proceed with their visa applications without the freeze in place. The decision marks a significant victory for immigrant advocacy groups and critics of the Trump administration's immigration policies.