A U.S. federal court has ruled that the immigration policy introduced by the Donald Trump administration, which blocked asylum, work permit, green card, and citizenship applications from citizens of 39 countries, is unlawful and therefore void.
The policy was introduced following an incident in Washington last November, where two National Guard soldiers were shot dead. Authorities accused an Afghan immigrant in connection with the attack, which led the Trump administration to tighten immigration controls citing national security and background verification concerns.
Immigration Restrictions Imposed on 39 Countries.
The administration imposed full and partial entry restrictions on nationals from 39 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Haiti, Somalia, Venezuela, and Syria. Officials justified the move on the grounds of national security and enhanced screening procedures.
As a result, thousands of legally submitted applications from people across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East remained pending for months. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services failed to process or issue decisions on these applications during this period.
Judge Strongly Condemns the Policy.
Immigration advocacy groups and labor unions filed a lawsuit in a Rhode Island federal court challenging the policy. Chief Judge John McConnell ruled that the administration violated congressional immigration laws and struck down the policy.Immigration supporters have welcomed the ruling, calling it a major victory for thousands of people who have been waiting for lawful immigration processing in the United States.
