A US federal judge has cancelled a set of immigration policies introduced by the Trump administration that had frozen immigration benefits for people from 39 countries covered under Washington’s expanded travel restrictions.

In a 135-page ruling, Chief Judge John McConnell said the measures were unlawful and that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) did not have the authority to impose such broad restrictions. The policies affected Green Card applications, work permits, asylum cases and citizenship requests.

Court Says USCIS Overstepped Its Powers

The restrictions were introduced after a 2025 shooting involving two National Guard members in Washington, DC. The Trump administration said the measures were needed for national security reasons.

However, Judge McConnell ruled that applicants had followed all legal requirements under US immigration law, including submitting documents, paying fees, providing biometric information and attending interviews.

The judge said USCIS had violated immigration and administrative laws. He also criticised the agency for using national security concerns without sufficient evidence and said applicants were unfairly affected because of their nationality.

Four Major Policies Cancelled

The court struck down four USCIS policies that had delayed or stopped immigration benefits for thousands of people.

These included:

An indefinite freeze on Green Cards, work permits and citizenship applications for nationals of the 39 countries.
A broad pause on asylum decisions.
Re-examination of previously approved immigration benefits.
Guidance instructing officials to treat nationality-based factors negatively while making immigration decisions.

According to the ruling, many applicants were left waiting for long periods simply because of the country where they were born.

Trump Administration Defends Its Actions

The Trump administration argued that the restrictions were necessary while the government reviewed vetting procedures for people from countries considered high-risk.

Responding to the judgment, Department of Homeland Security General Counsel James Percival defended the policies and rejected claims that they were motivated by anti-immigrant bias.

He said critics had repeatedly used similar arguments against the administration’s immigration policies since 2017.

What Does This Mean for Indians?

India was not among the 39 countries affected by the travel restrictions, so Indian applicants were not directly impacted by the immigration freeze.

However, immigration experts say the ruling could have broader implications for how immigration applications are handled in the future.

Indians make up one of the largest groups applying for employment-based visas, Green Cards and US citizenship. Experts believe the judgment sends a strong message that immigration agencies cannot delay or suspend lawful applications without clear legal authority.

Immigration Groups Welcome the Decision

Immigration advocacy organisations welcomed the ruling, saying it restores access to legal immigration pathways.

Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, said applicants should be given a fair chance to have their cases reviewed according to the law.