A US federal judge has struck down a series of Trump administration immigration policies that froze Green Cards, work permits, asylum applications and citizenship processing for nationals of 39 countries, according to media reports.
Chief Judge John McConnell of the US District Court in Rhode Island ruled that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) lacked the legal authority to impose the restrictions, which were introduced on national security grounds following a 2025 shooting involving two National Guard members in Washington, DC.
According to court documents cited by media reports, McConnell said applicants affected by the policies had met all legal requirements, including filing applications, paying fees, submitting biometric information and attending interviews.
The judge ruled that USCIS had violated federal immigration and administrative laws by suspending immigration benefits without clear statutory authority. He also criticised the agency’s reliance on national security concerns, saying applicants had been left in prolonged uncertainty because of their nationality.
Media reports said the ruling invalidated four USCIS policies, including an indefinite freeze on Green Cards, work permits and citizenship applications for nationals of countries covered by the travel restrictions, a broad pause on asylum processing, mandatory reviews of previously approved immigration benefits and guidance directing officials to treat nationality-related factors as negative considerations in immigration decisions.
The Trump administration defended the measures, arguing that they were necessary while the government reviewed vetting procedures for nationals of countries considered high-risk, according to reports.
India was not among the 39 countries affected by the restrictions, meaning Indian applicants were not directly impacted by the immigration freeze.
However, immigration experts quoted in media reports said the decision could have wider implications for the handling of immigration applications and processing delays. Indians remain one of the largest groups seeking employment-based visas, Green Cards and US citizenship.
Immigration advocacy groups welcomed the ruling, saying it restores access to legal immigration pathways and reinforces protections against nationality-based discrimination.
The lawsuit was filed by immigrant service organisations and labour unions, which argued that the policies unlawfully prevented thousands of eligible applicants from obtaining immigration benefits despite meeting all legal requirements.
According to media reports, the ruling represents a significant setback for efforts to tighten legal immigration pathways and could affect thousands of applications that had previously been placed on hold.
