Iranian Employment Visa Hopefuls Sue Over Trump’s Travel Ban

A group of Iranian employment-based green card applicants are asking a federal court to set aside the Trump administration’s travel ban restricting entry into the US from Iran and 18 other countries.

The proclamation exceeded the president’s authority, they argue in an an amended complaint submitted July 4 to the US District Court for the District of Columbia. The plaintiffs are also seeking to have the State Department issue decisions on pending employment-based visa applications blocked by the June 4 White House proclamation that issued the ban.

The State Department improperly relied on the ban to refuse to adjudicate the applications after the Department of Homeland Security already determined their entry was in the national interest, the suit says.

Plaintiffs include 33 applicants for employment-based green cards and their spouses, among them pilots, medical researchers, and experts in artificial intelligence and machine learning. The individuals self-petitioned in green card categories for highly skilled workers, and each had already been interviewed by consular officers. But administrative delays and the subsequent travel ban have derailed their ability to make future plans, according to the revised complaint.

Although the travel ban proclamation included an exception for individuals who would serve the national interest, it’s been implemented with no such exceptions granted, the lawsuit argues. The amended complaint is part of ongoing litigation challenging enhanced vetting policies that delayed consular approval for Iranian visa applicants.

Plaintiffs are represented by Red Eagle Law LC.

The State Department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The case is Ariani v Blinken, D.D.C., No. 1:25-cv-00349, complaint filed 7/4/25.