Mexicans Can Cross U.S. Border to Get Paid for Plasma, Court Rules

SYDNEY—Pharmaceutical companies scored a legal victory that will again allow them to pay people who cross the border from Mexico for their blood plasma, giving a boost to U.S. supply of a critical ingredient needed for treating serious disorders.

On Friday, a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction that prevents border officials from enforcing a ban on paying for plasma donations from Mexicans who enter the U.S. on visitor visas. The injunction applies while the litigation is pending, and although the ruling isn’t final, the judge indicated the pharmaceutical companies have a strong case.