PoliticsJudge Strikes Down Visa Speech ProvisionsAired August 30, 2026 at 9:51 AM UTCWritten September 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:00A federal judge in California has struck down two immigration law provisions used to0:04revoke visas and pursue removal over protected speech.0:07In a 90-page decision filed August 28th, U.S.0:10District Judge Noel Wise ruled that eight U.S.C.0:13Section 1182A 3CII and Section 1001I violate the First and Fifth0:18Amendments.0:19The first provision concerns a Secretary of State's determination that a0:22non-citizen's admission or activities would compromise a compelling U.S.0:26foreign policy interest.0:27The second authorizes discretionary visa revocation.0:30Wise found that when protected speech is the butt-for-reason for revoking a visa,0:34the government is engaging in viewpoint discrimination.0:37The ruling came in Stanford Daily Publishing Corporation and others versus Rubio and0:41others, case number 525 CV 06618.0:44FIRE, which brought the case, called it the first known ruling on the0:47constitutionality of these provisions.0:49The decision is limited.0:51It comes from one district judge and is not a nationwide halt to all speech-related0:55immigration enforcement.0:56The Justice Department had not commented to courthouse news, and no appeal or stay1:00request was confirmed in the supplied record.1:02Unless stayed or reversed, the judgment removes these two statutory bases for the1:06challenged speech-driven actions in this case.1:09Any broader national rule will depend on appellate review.Explore with HeyDexThe shortThe short ↗