Federal Judge Blocks Immigration Restrictions Affecting Applicants from 39 Countries
On June 5, 2026, U.S. District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island ruled that several immigration policies adopted during the Trump administration were unlawful. According to the court’s decision, these policies prevented certain individuals from receiving final decisions on applications for asylum, work permits, green cards, and U.S. citizenship.
The ruling specifically addressed policies implemented by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that targeted applicants from 39 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Judge McConnell found that USCIS improperly adopted these restrictions and ordered that the policies be set aside.
The decision could affect individuals whose immigration applications were delayed or subjected to additional scrutiny because they were nationals of one of the 39 affected countries. However, the ultimate impact of the ruling remains to be seen, particularly if the government seeks further review or appeals the decision.
Individuals with pending asylum applications, work permit requests, green card cases, or naturalization applications who believe they may have been affected by these policies should consider consulting an immigration attorney to determine whether this ruling may impact their case.
New York Immigration Center assists clients throughout the United States with asylum cases, employment authorization applications, family-based green cards, naturalization, waivers, and immigration court proceedings.
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