WASHINGTON — In a case that could chill freedom of speech and adversely affect misinformation research and fact-checking, lawyers representing academics, journalists and researchers argued in federal court that a 2025 Trump administration visa policy should be reversed.

The lawsuit targets a policy that restricts foreign officials and people who the U.S. government says are “complicit in censoring Americans” from entering the United States or residing in the U.S. legally, potentially including deportation.

The State Department has said five people were “sanctioned” under the policy: Thierry Breton of France, a former European commissioner for internal markets and digital services; Imran Ahmed, a lawful U.S.…