US Court Strikes Down Trump Policies Targeting Immigrants From 39 Countries

A federal judge ruled that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) violated immigration laws by implementing unlawful policies that barred people from 39 countries from receiving decisions on asylum, work permits, green cards, and citizenship. The ruling was issued by Chief US District Judge John McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, who found the USCIS's hold on processing applications to be arbitrary and based on "anti-immigrant sentiments." The judge emphasized that these individuals had adhered to legal processes and were not at fault for the delays. This victory for immigrant service organizations and labor unions was hailed as a reaffirmation of the principle that the federal government cannot discriminate against people based on their origin.