Hundreds of foreign nationals selected for the federal government’s Diversity Visa Program filed a class-action lawsuit Wednesday against the Trump administration, challenging a series of immigration suspensions they argue unlawfully threaten their chances of obtaining U.S. residency.
The lawsuit, Medani v. Trump, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. It seeks to compel federal agencies to resume processing and final adjudications for 664 families — representing 1,489 plaintiffs — before a statutory deadline of midnight Sept. 30, 2026.
Under federal law, any diversity visas not issued by the end of the fiscal year are permanently lost.
Challenging administration barriers
The lawsuit challenges a series of directives issued by federal agencies in recent months, which plaintiffs refer to as “Defendants’ Barriers.”
The first measure, known as the USCIS DV Hold, was enacted through a Dec. 19, 2025, policy memorandum. It placed an indefinite pause on all pending adjustment of status applications, related benefits and waivers for diversity visa applicants residing in the United States.
Days later, on Dec. 23, 2025, the State Department issued a global directive pausing all diversity visa issuances with “no exceptions.” The policy was expanded Feb. 2, 2026, with a “75-country freeze,” halting immigrant visa processing for nationals of countries the administration labeled as high risk for reliance on public benefits.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs argue the coordinated policies represent an overreach of executive authority. They contend the measures bypass congressional intent, rewrite immigration law without authorization and replace case-by-case adjudication with broad, nationality-based restrictions.
A limited opportunity at risk
The Diversity Visa Program allocates up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually to applicants from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States. For fiscal year 2026, more than 20 million entries were submitted, leaving applicants with less than a 1% chance of selection.
According to the complaint, 84 plaintiff families are in the United States seeking to adjust status, while 577 families are pursuing consular processing abroad. Of those, 444 are affected by the 75-country freeze.
The lawsuit describes significant personal and financial hardships caused by the processing delays, including the risk of family separation and mounting psychological stress.
Legal and political response
The lawsuit names several administration officials as defendants, including President Donald J. Trump; White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen N. Miller; Secretary of State Marco Rubio; USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow; Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin; and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Attorneys argue the policies violate the separation of powers, asserting that while the administration cites national security and economic concerns, research shows immigrants contribute positively to the U.S. economy and use public benefits at lower rates than native-born citizens.
Curtis Lee Morrison, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, sharply criticized the policy architects.
“Stephen Miller and his little pet Edlow are monsters for suspending the diversity visa program,” Morrison said in a statement. “We can’t let the monsters get what they want.”
The plaintiffs’ legal team said it plans to file motions for a preliminary injunction and class certification in the coming days, aiming to resume visa processing before the Sept. 30 deadline.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
