In a legal setback for Senator James Emmanuel Nuquay of Liberia, a US federal court has affirmed the US government’s decision to impose a visa ban on him. The ruling, issued on February 7, 2025, by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, dismissed Nuquay’s efforts to overturn the ban, asserting that such decisions fall within the US State Department’s discretion.
Nuquay, his wife Ruthtoria Brown Nuquay, and their minor daughter filed a lawsuit against US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other government officials, challenging the visa restrictions placed on them. The case centered around Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2023 prohibits foreign officials from entering the US if there is credible evidence linking them to corruption or severe human rights abuses.
In their legal challenge, the plaintiffs argued that the visa ban was unfair and violated international agreements, alleging that the move tarnished Nuquay’s reputation and infringed upon their right to travel freely. Despite these claims, the court ruled that visa decisions made under Section 7031(c) are within the US government’s authority and are not subject to judicial review.
In delivering the opinion, Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr. reinforced the principle of consular nonreviewability, which limits the judiciary’s role in reviewing visa-related decisions. With this ruling, the court sided with the US government, granting its motion to dismiss the lawsuit, and effectively ending any legal challenge to the visa ban.
The ruling, which was issued with prejudice, means that Nuquay and his family cannot pursue further legal action against the US government. It reminds us of the far-reaching scope of US anti-corruption measures, highlighting the continued use of visa restrictions as a foreign policy tool to combat corruption and hold foreign officials accountable.
At this point, Nuquay’s legal team has not revealed whether they will seek alternative avenues to contest the ban. However, the court’s decision sends a clear message about the limits of judicial intervention in the State Department’s visa determinations, and underscores the continued focus of the US government on anti-corruption efforts globally.
