US judge blocks Trump policy freezing immigration cases from 39 countries
Why it matters: The ruling could restart decisions on asylum, work permit, green card and citizenship applications left pending for months.
A federal judge in Rhode Island struck down Trump administration policies that halted immigration benefit decisions for people from 39 countries, ruling that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services acted unlawfully. Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. said the measures left immigrants in “indeterminate legal limbo” by blocking final decisions on asylum, work permits, green cards and citizenship applications based on country of birth. The policies were adopted after the November shooting of two National Guard members in Washington that prosecutors say was carried out by Afghan immigrant Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who has pleaded not guilty. McConnell wrote that USCIS lacked legal authority and relied on pretextual national security concerns.