The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that federal courts cannot review visa revocations for sham marriages, granting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) broad discretion.
The case, Bouarfa v. Mayorkas, involved Amina Bouarfa, whose husband’s visa was revoked after DHS deemed their marriage fraudulent. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson affirmed the Secretary’s authority to revoke visas “at any time” for “good and sufficient cause.”
This ruling bolsters DHS power and aligns with the Trump administration’s stricter immigration policies. While supporters argue it enhances national security, critics, including the ACLU, warn it could lead to unchecked abuses, especially given the immigration system’s backlog of over 3 million cases.
Chief Justice John Roberts noted that affected individuals can reapply for visas, though the process often causes significant delays and hardships. The decision comes as the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement, further expanding executive authority in visa-related matters.
