A federal judge in San Diego has ordered the State Department to reopen registration for the fiscal year 2027 Diversity Immigrant Visa lottery, reversing a suspension the Trump administration imposed last December. Judge Jinsook Ohta of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California issued a preliminary injunction on Oct. 14, finding that the government's shutdown of the program could not stand.
The order sets a firm deadline for the State Department to reopen the lottery and establishes a defined registration window, putting the agency on the clock after months of litigation. The ruling marks a reversal from earlier in the case, when Ohta had declined to grant emergency relief through a temporary restraining order. The State Department has not said publicly whether it will comply, appeal, or seek a stay.
What the Injunction Requires
Ohta's order requires the lottery to open by a set deadline, with a registration period lasting roughly a month. The ruling halts the program's suspension outright, meaning the State Department must resume accepting entries for the chance at permanent residence under the diversity visa category. The case is Red Eagle Law LC v. Rubio, filed in the Southern District of California.
The Diversity Immigrant Visa program allocates up to 55,000 green cards a year through a random drawing open to nationals of countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States, many of them in Africa. Winning the lottery does not guarantee a visa; selectees must still complete an application, interview, and background screening process before a visa is issued.
Why the Program Was Suspended
The Trump administration shut down the diversity visa program in December 2025 after a Portuguese national who had received a green card through the lottery was suspected in two shootings in Rhode Island and Massachusetts that killed four people. That individual was later found dead by suicide. The administration cited the attacks in halting the program.
In March 2026, while the suspension remained in place, the administration issued a separate rule requiring diversity visa applicants to hold a valid passport before registering. That requirement is a change from past lottery cycles and does not appear to be affected by the injunction.
The Lawsuit Behind the Order
California-based immigration law firm Red Eagle Law LC sued the State Department over the suspension, representing itself in the litigation. Ohta initially denied the firm's request for a temporary restraining order, a form of emergency short-term relief, before later granting the more substantial preliminary injunction — a court order that remains in effect while the underlying case proceeds and requires the plaintiff to show a likelihood of winning on the merits.
Processing Delays in a Related Case
The injunction arrives against a backdrop of separate litigation over diversity visa processing speed. A judge in the Northern District of California found last month that the State Department had restarted processing of fiscal 2026 diversity visa applications at what that court called an unprecedented glacial pace. That finding raises questions about whether the agency can process fiscal 2027 applications quickly enough even if registration opens as ordered.
Why the Timeline Matters
Diversity visa numbers are tied to the fiscal year in which they are allocated. A late-opening registration period compresses every step that follows — the random selection, notifications to winners, and consular interviews — leaving less time for selectees to complete processing before that fiscal year's visa numbers are no longer available.
Who Is Affected
The order directly affects prospective applicants from eligible countries hoping to register for the fiscal 2027 lottery, as well as the State Department itself, now under a court deadline to act. It also affects the up to 55,000 people who could eventually be selected for green cards through the program if registration and processing move forward.
What Remains Unresolved
The State Department declined to comment on the pending litigation, leaving its compliance plans unclear. The verified record does not show whether the government has filed or intends to file an appeal or an emergency stay request. It also does not establish what enforcement steps the court could take if the agency fails to meet the registration deadline.
Separately, the full text of Ohta's order — including any specific findings on the merits or on processing timelines — is not available in the verified public record reviewed for this article, so the precise legal reasoning behind the injunction cannot be independently confirmed here.
Clinch Law Legal Analysis
Sources
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration outcomes depend on individual facts and current law.
A federal judge in the Southern District of California has issued a preliminary injunction requiring the State Department to reopen Diversity Visa lottery registration for fiscal year 2027. According to Bloomberg Law's reporting, Judge Jinsook Ohta ordered that the lottery must be open by a Friday deadline, with registration lasting approximately one month. Prospective applicants from eligible countries should monitor the State Department's official DV lottery website for the registration portal to open and should prepare required documentation, including a passport, which a March 2026 rule now mandates. The registration window may be compressed compared to historical norms, so prompt action once registration opens will be important.
The injunction halts the Trump administration's suspension of the program, which was imposed in December 2025 after a series of violent incidents attributed to a prior DV recipient. The court had previously denied a temporary restraining order in the same case, making this preliminary injunction a significant shift. Whether the State Department will comply, seek a stay, or appeal remains uncertain. A separate Northern District of California proceeding found that State Department processing of fiscal 2026 DV applications had proceeded at what that court called "an unprecedented glacial pace," raising questions about whether even court-ordered timelines will produce timely visa issuance. Applicants should track both the registration opening and any appellate developments closely.
Questions Clients Are Asking#
Has the DV-2027 green card lottery been reopened?
A federal judge has ordered it reopened. Bloomberg Law reports that Judge Jinsook Ohta issued a preliminary injunction requiring the State Department to reinstate DV-2027 registration. The exact date registration will go live depends on State Department compliance. Prospective applicants should watch the official DV lottery site for the portal to open and be prepared to register promptly, as the window may be shorter than in prior years.
Do I need a passport to register for the DV-2027 lottery?
Bloomberg Law reports that in March 2026, the administration issued a rule mandating that DV applicants hold a passport. This appears to be a new requirement compared to prior lottery cycles. Prospective registrants should ensure they have a valid passport before the registration window opens.
Why was the diversity visa lottery suspended?
The Trump administration suspended the program in December 2025 after a Portuguese national who had received a diversity visa was suspected of killing four people in shootings in Rhode Island and Massachusetts; that individual was subsequently found dead by suicide. The suspension was challenged in court by California-based immigration law firm Red Eagle Law LC.
Can the government appeal or block the judge's order to reopen the DV lottery?
The verified reporting does not describe any appeal or stay motion filed so far. The State Department declined to comment on pending litigation. The government could potentially seek an emergency stay from the Ninth Circuit or appeal the preliminary injunction, but no such action is confirmed in the current record. Applicants should monitor developments closely.
How long will DV-2027 registration be open?
The Bloomberg Law report states registration would last through a period of approximately one month from opening. Because the window may be compressed relative to historical DV lottery registration periods, prospective applicants should prepare all materials—including the newly required passport—in advance and register as soon as the portal becomes available.