By Queen Madaki
A federal judge in the United States has struck down a series of immigration policies introduced under the administration of President Donald Trump, ruling that the measures unlawfully prevented thousands of applicants from receiving decisions on asylum, work permits, permanent residency and citizenship applications.
Chief US District Judge John McConnell, sitting in Providence, Rhode Island, described the policies as unlawful and discriminatory, saying they unfairly targeted applicants from 39 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
Judge Rules Delays Were Unlawful
According to the ruling, many applicants complied with all legal requirements established by Congress and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), yet their applications remained unresolved for extended periods.
Judge McConnell held that the delays were not linked to any misconduct by the applicants but were instead tied to their countries of origin.
The court further found that USCIS lacked the legal authority to implement the disputed measures and allowed nationality-based considerations to influence immigration decisions.
Advocacy Group Welcomes Court Decision
Reacting to the judgment, Democracy Forward President, Skye Perryman, whose organisation represented the plaintiffs, said the ruling reinforces the principle that lawful immigration pathways cannot be denied on the basis of nationality.
She noted that thousands of affected individuals had followed established procedures but were left in prolonged uncertainty because of the policies.
The Department of Homeland Security had not issued an official response at the time of filing this report.
Background To The Immigration Dispute
The disputed policies formed part of a broader immigration crackdown introduced during the Trump administration following a shooting incident involving two National Guard personnel in Washington, D.C.
Prosecutors had alleged that the attack was carried out by an Afghan immigrant, prompting tighter immigration measures that affected applicants from dozens of countries.
The Bureau Journal reports that the ruling could have far-reaching implications for thousands of immigration applicants whose cases were delayed under the policies.
Legal experts believe the decision may also shape future debates over immigration policy, executive powers and administrative authority in the United States.
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