The key facts

  • Judge Jinsuke Ohta on October 14 ordered the State Department to open registration for the 2027 green card lottery by midnight on October 15, for a minimum of 30 days.
  • The State Department must process applications until all 55,000 visas are issued or fiscal year 2027 ends.
  • The lawsuit against Marco Rubio was filed by the company Red Eagle Law under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Court orders green card lottery registration to open

A US federal court has ordered the administration of Donald Trump to open applications for the green card lottery (Diversity Visa) for fiscal year 2027, Newsweek reports. The reason was that the administration failed to launch the registration period for this visa program in a timely manner.

Judge Ohta's ruling

US District Judge Jinsuke Ohta issued the order on October 14. He directed the State Department, led by Marco Rubio, to set registration dates for participation in the 2027 program. The ruling gives applicants the opportunity to take part in the lottery. The State Department is required to process applications until all 55,000 allotted visas are issued or until fiscal year 2027 ends.

Plaintiff's demands and deadlines

According to Curtis Morrison, an attorney at the law firm Red Eagle Law L.C., which acted as the plaintiff, the judge also ordered the State Department to announce the opening of applications for the 2027 lottery by midnight local time on October 15. The registration period must last at least 30 days.

The administration's position and the lawsuit

The Trump administration, which opposes the green card program, did not open registration for the 2027 lottery before the end of the previous fiscal year. Later, government representatives argued in court that launching the delayed registration period contradicts the rules governing the program's implementation timeline. Red Eagle Law filed a lawsuit against Marco Rubio under the Administrative Procedure Act, challenging the State Department's failure to open registration.

About the program

The green card program, established by the US Congress in 1990, grants permanent residency in the United States to citizens of countries with low levels of immigration to the US. Lottery winners must meet immigration requirements to obtain the visa.