On Friday, June 5, a federal judge struck down several Trump administration immigration policies that targeted asylum seekers and halted the processing of immigration benefit applications for individuals from 39 countries, finding that the administration had exceeded its legal authority.

Last year, the administration paused asylum case processing and suspended immigration benefit applications for affected individuals subject to the travel ban for an undetermined period of time, leaving millions of immigrants across the United States facing uncertainty about their legal status.

In a lengthy 135-page court opinion, Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell found that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) acted unlawfully by implementing broad restrictions without authorization from Congress or established regulations. The court concluded that the policy unfairly targeted applicants based on their country of origin and violated federal immigration and administrative law.

The opinion comes after several plaintiff organizations including Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island and Refugee Dream Center filed a lawsuit in federal court arguing that thousands of individuals were prevented from obtaining lawful immigration benefits despite meeting eligibility requirements. The ruling reinforces the principle that immigration agencies must follow existing law and cannot create sweeping restrictions without proper legal authority.

What this means for applicants

The judge has ordered USCIS to resume the processing of immigration applications filed by people from the 39 countries who were affected by Trump’s travel ban, as well as asylum applications.

Judge McConnell also invalidated a USCIS policy that required immigrants from countries on the Trump administration’s travel ban list—who had already been approved for immigration benefits after entering the United States after 2021—to undergo a second review of their cases. The judge rejected the government’s argument that these additional screenings and country-based evaluations were necessary for national security, finding that the policy lacked sufficient legal justification.

Looking ahead

The ruling is a significant setback for the Trump administration which has sought not only to curb illegal immigration but also to restrict legal immigration by implementing policies that make it more likely for individuals to leave the United States.

The decision requires the government to resume normal processing procedures and begin adjudicating the large backlog of cases.

Separate lawsuits remain pending in New York and the District of Columbia challenging the Trump administration’s suspension of immigrant visa processing for people from 75 countries.

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