Trump Administration Appeals Judge’s Order to Reopen 2027 Diversity Visa Lottery
The Trump administration has appealed a federal judge’s injunction that requires the State Department to reopen registration for the 2027 Diversity Visa lottery and has asked the court to pause the order while the appeal proceeds.
A federal judge in the Southern District of California ordered the State Department to reopen the 2027 Diversity Visa lottery after a lawsuit by immigration firm Red Eagle Law, finding the agency’s indefinite suspension unlawful. Judge Jinsook Ohta granted a preliminary injunction, noting the lack of any explanation for the shift from a temporary delay announced in November 2025 to a full-year suspension, and deeming the move arbitrary and capricious.
The Trump administration filed a notice of appeal on October 19 and also requested that the injunction be stayed pending review. The court set revised deadlines, requiring the department to publish the registration period by October 29 and to open the lottery on November 1 for a 30-day window, with selectees to be notified by December. The administration argues that the court cannot compel a lottery after the registration period should have occurred, but the judge rejected that claim, emphasizing that a late start still satisfies congressional requirements. The outcome will determine whether thousands of prospective immigrants can apply for the program this fiscal year.
Why it matters
The decision will affect thousands of potential immigrants and sets a precedent for how the government must justify changes to immigration programs.
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