A US federal judge has dealt a major blow to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, ruling that the administration unlawfully blocked people from 39 countries from receiving decisions on applications for asylum, work permits, green cards and US citizenship.
Chief US District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island struck down a series of policies adopted by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), saying they left thousands of immigrants in legal uncertainty for months.
The judge said many applicants had followed all legal procedures required under US immigration laws but were still left waiting indefinitely because USCIS refused to process their applications. According to the ruling, the agency lacked the legal authority to impose such restrictions and failed to follow established immigration and administrative laws.
Why did the court strike down the policies?
Judge McConnell said the immigration agency had adopted the measures without proper statutory or regulatory authority. He also stated that the policies appeared to be influenced by anti-immigrant sentiment, something federal agencies are not permitted to consider when making decisions.
In his ruling, the judge noted that the delays were not caused by any wrongdoing on the part of the applicants. Instead, he said people were being treated differently solely because of the countries where they were born.
What triggered these immigration restrictions?
The policies were introduced as part of a wider immigration crackdown after the November shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC Prosecutors alleged that the attack was carried out by an Afghan immigrant, although the accused has pleaded not guilty.
Following the incident, Trump announced plans to permanently pause migration from what he called “Third World Countries.” His administration later expanded full or partial travel restrictions to 39 nations.
What does the ruling mean for immigrants?
The ruling is a significant victory for immigrant rights organisations and labor unions that challenged the policies in court earlier this year. Legal advocates argued that the federal government cannot shut down lawful immigration pathways or discriminate against people based on nationality.
The decision could now allow thousands of delayed applications for asylum, work permits, green cards and citizenship to move forward, ending months of uncertainty for affected immigrants.
First published on: Jun 06, 2026 09:23 AM IST
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