US Judge Strikes Down Trump Policies Targeting Immigrants From 39 Countries

Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, found that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) unlawfully suspended or delayed the consideration of applications involving asylum, work permits, green cards and citizenship for affected applicants, according to Reuters.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed in March by a coalition of immigrant service organizations and labor unions. The plaintiffs argued that USCIS had effectively stopped processing applications from individuals covered by travel-related restrictions since November, leaving thousands of cases in limbo.

In his decision, McConnell said immigration authorities could not deny or delay benefits solely because of an applicant's nationality or country of birth. He added that the agency had failed to follow immigration laws enacted by Congress and had also violated its own administrative procedures.

The judge said many applicants had completed the legal requirements for immigration benefits but saw their cases remain unresolved for months without explanation.

The U.S. government had not publicly responded to the ruling as of Friday.

The decision could reopen immigration pathways for thousands of people whose applications for asylum, employment authorization, permanent residency and citizenship were delayed under the challenged policies.

The ruling marks the latest legal setback for Trump-era immigration measures, many of which faced challenges in federal courts. Several policies involving travel restrictions, refugee admissions and asylum procedures were the subject of years of litigation that shaped U.S. immigration policy.

Afghans are among those likely to be affected by the decision. Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, tens of thousands of Afghans have sought protection, resettlement or legal status in the United States through asylum claims, humanitarian programs and family-based immigration channels. Advocacy groups have repeatedly raised concerns about processing delays affecting vulnerable applicants.

Legal experts say the case could have broader implications for how federal agencies handle immigration applications from nationals of countries subject to security-related restrictions. The administration may appeal the ruling, potentially setting up another court battle over the limits of executive authority in immigration matters.

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