Federal Judge Orders Reopening of Diversity Visa Lottery for Fiscal Year 2027

A federal judge in San Diego has ordered the Trump administration to reopen the Diversity Visa Lottery for fiscal year 2027, a program that provides a pathway to permanent residency and previously attracted over 20 million entries. U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta issued a preliminary injunction on October 14, 2026, directing the State Department to announce registration details by October 29 and open applications by November 1 for a 30-day period. This ruling comes as federal statistics show Florida has surpassed California as the leading state for new green card holders.