(St. Lucia Times) – Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre is urging caution following a US federal judge’s decision to strike down a Trump administration policy suspending immigrant visa issuance to applicants from 75 countries, including Saint Lucia.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Pierre said Saint Lucians should wait to see whether the decision survives a possible appeal to the US Supreme Court.
“In the Supreme Court there are pro-Trump judges, so we can’t dance and sing about that decision as yet,” Pierre said.
The comments came after US District Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York ruled that the policy exceeded the statutory authority of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Vargas described the policy as “patently unlawful”, finding that it conflicted with federal immigration law.
The policy, introduced in January, suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries across Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean. Saint Lucia was among the countries affected.
