Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York ruled on Friday that a ban on immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries was contrary to law. She said Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his statutory authority by ordering consular officers to refuse visas solely based on an applicant’s country of origin. The policy, which took effect in January, barred processing of immigrant visas for citizens of Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Thailand and Yemen. The State Department had said the ban was intended to prevent high‑risk immigrants from becoming public charges. Vargas held that the order violated immigration law because it did not consider individual eligibility. The ruling vacates any visa denial that was based only on nationality. The government may appeal the decision. The ban is part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration enforcement agenda, which includes measures to speed up deportations and reduce border crossings.