US Judge Blocks Trump-Era Immigration Policies Affecting Applicants From 39 Countries

A federal judge has struck down a series of immigration policies that had prevented people from 39 countries from receiving decisions on applications for asylum, work permits, green cards and U.S. citizenship.

The ruling came from Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island, who found that the policies adopted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) exceeded the agency’s legal authority. According to the court, the measures left thousands of immigrants in prolonged uncertainty despite following established legal immigration procedures.

USCIS Policies Placed Applicants in Legal Limbo

The challenged policies were introduced as part of a broader immigration crackdown following the November shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. Prosecutors have charged Afghan immigrant Rahmanullah Lakanwal in the case, though he has pleaded not guilty.

After the incident, the administration expanded travel restrictions affecting 39 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Haiti, Somalia, Venezuela and Syria. USCIS then paused the processing of various immigration benefit applications submitted by people from those nations.

In his decision, Judge McConnell stated that applicants were being denied timely decisions solely because of their country of birth. He ruled that the agency failed to follow immigration laws and administrative procedures established by Congress.

Immigration Groups Welcome Court Decision

The lawsuit was brought by immigrant service organizations and labor unions, which argued that the policies unfairly blocked lawful immigration pathways. Advocacy groups welcomed the ruling, saying it reinforces the principle that immigration decisions must be based on law rather than nationality.