Big Win For Immigrants: US Court Strikes Down Trump's Green Card Freeze: What It Means For Indians

Published 6 June 2026 · india

Big Win For Immigrants: US Court Strikes Down Trump's Green Card Freeze: What It Means For Indians Published By, Last Updated: June 06, 2026, 14:27

Big Win For Immigrants: US Court Strikes Down Trump's Green Card Freeze: What It Means For Indians Published By, Last Updated: June 06, 2026, 14:27 IST US Court observed that Trump's immigration measures were unlawful and said the USCIS did not have the authority to impose such wide-ranging restrictions. A Green Card puts immigrants on the path to US citizenship and allows them to live and work permanently in the country. A US federal judge has struck down a set of Trump administration policies that froze immigration benefits for nationals of 39 countries covered by Washington’s expanded travel restrictions. In a 135-page ruling, Chief Judge John McConnell of the US District Court in Rhode Island held that the measures were unlawful and said the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) did not have the authority to impose such wide-ranging restrictions. The policies had affected Green Card applications, work permits, asylum processing and naturalisation requests. Court says USCIS exceeded its authority The restrictions were introduced after a 2025 shooting involving two Guard members in Washington, DC. The Trump administration defended the measures as necessary for national security. However, McConnell said the applicants had complied with all legal requirements under US immigration law.

“Indeed, the agency has violated the very immigration laws that Congress has charged it with administering, as well as the administrative laws that govern the agency’s actions," the judge said. He noted that applicants had completed all required procedures, including filing paperwork, paying fees, providing biometrics and attending interviews. The judge also criticised USCIS for relying on what he described as unsupported national security concerns. “USCIS acts without regard for the reliance interests of applicants that it must consider; and justifies its actions with pretextual concerns of ‘national security’ that mask anti-immigrant sentiments that it is forbidden from letting influence its decision-making," he said. The ruling struck down four USCIS policies that had either delayed or halted immigration benefits for thousands of people. These included an indefinite freeze on Green Cards, work permits and citizenship applications for nationals from the 39 countries on the travel-ban list. The court also invalidated a broad pause on asylum decisions, mandatory re-review of previously approved immigration benefits, and guidance directing officials to treat nationality-based factors as negative considerations during immigration decisions. McConnell ruled that applicants had been left in prolonged uncertainty solely because of their country of birth. Trump administration defends restrictions The Trump administration argued that the measures were necessary while reviewing vetting procedures for nationals from countries considered high-risk.