US Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump-Era Immigration Restrictions Affecting 39 Countries

A U.S. federal judge has invalidated a series of immigration policies introduced by the Trump administration that had restricted asylum and immigration-related applications from citizens of 39 countries. The ruling is expected to clear the way for thousands of pending applications to move forward.

Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell ruled that the policies unlawfully prevented applicants from receiving decisions on asylum claims, work permits, green card applications, and citizenship requests. The measures had primarily affected nationals from countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.

The restrictions were introduced following the November 2025 shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, an incident that prompted the administration to impose heightened immigration controls on citizens of the affected countries, citing national security concerns.

In his ruling, Judge McConnell said the policies left many immigrants in prolonged legal uncertainty despite following established immigration procedures. He noted that numerous applicants had been unable to work legally for months and faced significant disruptions to their lives and livelihoods.

The Trump administration had argued that the restrictions were necessary to protect national security. However, the court found that the measures lacked sufficient legal authority and criticized the government's justification for the policy.

Immigration advocates welcomed the decision, calling it a reaffirmation that lawful immigration processes cannot be suspended or applied differently based solely on an applicant’s country of origin. The ruling applies to pending immigration benefit applications affected by the policy, although the administration may still seek an appeal.