Judge throws out challenge to visa lottery

By ALICIA A. CALDWELL Associated Press
Posted: 07/14/2011 03:34:24 PM MDT

WASHINGTON—A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a group of would-be immigrants who were mistakenly told they had won a chance to apply for a U.S. visa.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson dismissed the case Thursday.

Roughly 22,000 people were told in early May they had won a coveted spot in the State Department's Diversity Visa Lottery Program. The results were quickly nullified after State Department officials realized a computer glitch skewed the outcome. The group sued in federal court in Washington last month.

The visa lottery makes up to 55,000 visas available annually to people from countries with traditionally low rates of emigration. A new lottery is scheduled for Friday.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_18478427