Court Says Delays Left Thousands in Legal Uncertainty
A federal judge has ruled that several immigration policies introduced by the administration of US President Donald Trump were unlawful, concluding that they prevented applicants from 39 countries from receiving decisions on immigration-related requests.
Chief US District Judge John McConnell issued the ruling on Friday in Providence, Rhode Island, striking down measures adopted by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). According to the court, the policies left many individuals from countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East waiting indefinitely for decisions on asylum applications, work permits, green cards and citizenship requests.
The judge stated that affected applicants had followed the legal immigration procedures established by Congress and implemented by federal regulations. However, many remained without decisions for extended periods despite meeting the required legal standards.
McConnell further argued that the policies lacked proper statutory and regulatory authority. He said immigration authorities placed applicants in prolonged uncertainty based largely on their country of origin rather than individual circumstances.
Advocacy Groups Welcome Decision as Legal Challenge Succeeds
Meanwhile, the ruling marked a significant victory for immigrant advocacy organizations and labor unions that challenged the policies in federal court earlier this year.
The lawsuit, filed in March, argued that the measures unfairly delayed immigration benefits and restricted access to lawful pathways available under US immigration law. Advocacy groups welcomed the decision, saying it reinforced the principle that government agencies must apply immigration laws fairly and consistently.
In response to the ruling, legal representatives for the plaintiffs said the decision confirmed that federal authorities cannot discriminate against applicants based on nationality or place of birth. They argued that lawful immigration processes must remain accessible to eligible individuals regardless of their background.
The Department of Homeland Security had not immediately issued a public response to the ruling.
The challenged policies were introduced as part of a broader immigration crackdown launched after a November incident involving the shooting of two National Guard members stationed in Washington, DC. Prosecutors later alleged that an Afghan immigrant was responsible for the attack.
The court’s decision is expected to affect thousands of pending immigration cases and could prompt broader changes in how immigration applications are reviewed and processed by federal authorities in the future.
