Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump Administration Immigration Restrictions Targeting 39 Countries

On June 5, 2026, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. in Providence, Rhode Island, issued a 135-page opinion striking down USCIS policies that suspended asylum adjudications and froze work permits, green-card and citizenship applications for nationals of 39 countries. He ruled the measures violated immigration and administrative law and placed individuals in limbo solely because of their birthplaces.

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Policies followed a November 2025 shooting in Washington, D.C., by Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal that killed two National Guard members. Administration cited national-security concerns and extended travel-ban framework to pause immigration benefit processing for 39 travel-ban countries.

WION

Court noted the hold left millions without work authorization or legal status for six months, with advocacy groups estimating over one million pending applications for asylum seekers, permanent residents and workers.

New York Times

Restoring adjudication reopens pathways for asylum, employment and citizenship. Analysts say decision curtails agency reliance on security pretexts and may spur challenges to other executive immigration actions lacking clear statutory authority.

Philadelphia Inquirer

DHS counsel James Percival called the ruling ideologically driven, labeling it “sabotage dressed in legal clothing.” Democracy Forward President Skye Perryman said decision reaffirms government cannot shut down immigration pathways. Murad Awawdeh of New York Immigration Coalition called policies “against statute and the rule of law.” Shev Dalal-Dheini of Immigration Lawyers Association called outcome an “important legal victory” for USCIS accountability.

Philadelphia Inquirer

The Department of Homeland Security argued the policies were a lawful exercise of executive discretion and that court’s intervention hampers administration’s ability to address security concerns, claiming judge’s findings reflect a partisan view of “anti-immigrant animus” rather than a neutral legal assessment.

CNN

DHS did not comment; the number of affected individuals remains unspecified beyond the “millions” and “over one million” estimates.

WION

• “(T)he Challenged Policies placed the lives of countless individuals on hold – solely by virtue of their countries of birth,” — Judge John J. McConnell Jr., in ruling

CNN

• “The Government effectively invites the Court to shut its eyes and ignore the strong evidence of anti-immigrant animus before it,” — Judge John J. McConnell Jr., in ruling

CNN

• “The Left has been running the same gambit with so called ‘animus’ claims since 2017. It is sabotage dressed in legal clothing,” — James Percival, General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security

CNN

• “This ruling reaffirms a basic principle: the federal government cannot shut down lawful immigration pathways or discriminate against people based on where they come from,” — Skye Perryman, President and CEO, Democracy Forward

Philadelphia Inquirer

USCIS must resume processing pending applications, and administration plans to appeal the ruling.

Reuters