Key facts
- A U.S. judge has ordered a halt to the Trump administration's visa restriction policy targeting disinformation researchers and platform regulators.
- The policy was announced by then-Secretary of State Marco Rubio in May 2025.
- The policy is seen as targeting officials enforcing the EU's Digital Services Act and UK's Online Act.
- The U.S. revoked visas of five individuals, including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton and Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate.
- Judge James E. Boasberg stated the policy likely breaches the First Amendment's protection of free speech.
A U.S. judge has temporarily halted a Trump administration policy that imposed visa restrictions on individuals working to combat online hate speech and misinformation, including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton and researchers. Judge James E. Boasberg of the District of Columbia ruled that the State Department's policy likely violates the First Amendment's protection of free speech and association.
The policy, announced by then-Secretary of State Marco Rubio in May 2025, was widely interpreted as targeting officials enforcing the European Union's Digital Services Act and the United Kingdom's Online Act, as well as civil society groups researching these areas. The U.S. government had already revoked the visas of five individuals, including Breton and Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, in December.
In his opinion, Judge Boasberg stated that the visa policy "burdens protected speech and association on the basis of viewpoint." The lawsuit was brought by a group of researchers seeking to overturn the policy. Imran Ahmed commented that "Censorship occurs when the government tries to revoke the green cards of people whose views its biggest donors would prefer not to hear." Josephine Ballon of HateAid expressed relief but noted that the decision does not lift entry bans or address financial sanctions.
The U.S. State Department did not respond to requests for comment, and Thierry Breton declined to comment.