Obama-appointed Chief Judge James Boasberg has blocked a Trump administration visa policy aimed at noncitizens deeply embedded in the content moderation, fact-checking, and Big Tech advocacy ecosystem.

Coalition for Independent Technology Research sued Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials over a 2025 visa-restriction policy targeting noncitizens engaged in content moderation research, fact-checking, and platform advocacy work. Plaintiff argued the policy violated the First Amendment by discriminating against researchers and advocates who favor stronger content moderation.

Plaintiff moved for a stay under 5 U.S.C. § 705 and a preliminary injunction suspending the policy pending resolution of the lawsuit. Plaintiff also sought a protective order barring the government from using litigation disclosures for immigration enforcement or retaliation.

The court granted the stay, suspending the challenged policy while the case proceeds. It denied plaintiff’s motion for a protective order without prejudice.

The court found plaintiff likely to succeed on its First Amendment viewpoint-discrimination claim because the policy’s applications reach private researchers, nonprofit leaders, and advocates based on their work favoring content moderation rather than foreign officials wielding sovereign power. Although the policy has a legitimate core, these unconstitutional applications substantially outweigh it under the overbreadth test. The court additionally found plaintiff has organizational standing, the policy is reviewable final agency action, and immigration deference does not overcome the loss of First Amendment freedoms.

Coalition for Independent Technology Research v. Rubio, No. 26-815 (D.D.C. July 14, 2026)