Judge Orders Trump Administration to Open 2027 Diversity Visa Lottery

A federal judge has mandated that the Trump administration commence the 2027 Diversity Visa lottery. This decision follows the administration’s failure to initiate the green card program’s registration period on time.

U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta issued a preliminary injunction requiring the State Department under Secretary Marco Rubio to establish a registration period for the fiscal year 2027 program. This ruling permits potential applicants to enter the green card lottery, with a requirement that the State Department process entries until the issuance of all 55,000 visas or the end of the 2027 fiscal year.

Judge Ohta directed the department to announce and open the DV-2027 registration period by midnight Eastern time on Thursday. This information comes according to Curtis Morrison, an attorney representing Red Eagle Law L.C., the firm that filed the lawsuit. The registration period must be accessible for at least 30 days.

The Trump administration, known for its opposition to the Diversity Visa program, did not initiate registration for DV-2027 before the previous fiscal year concluded. In court, the government argued that a delayed registration period would conflict with regulations governing program timing.

Red Eagle Law filed a lawsuit against Rubio, citing the State Department’s failure to open registration as a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

Since President Donald Trump began his second term, his administration has imposed stricter measures on various legal immigration pathways. This includes visa and humanitarian programs, part of a broader crackdown on immigration enforcement.

The Diversity Visa program, established by Congress in 1990, provides green cards to eligible individuals from countries with low rates of U.S. immigration. Nevertheless, lottery winners must meet immigration requirements to receive a visa.

This is a developing story. Further updates will be provided.