A US federal court has blocked a series of Trump administration measures that prevented federal officials from granting asylum, green cards and other legal immigration benefits to many immigrants in the US. On June 5, 2026, District Judge John McConnell ruled that the restrictions on asylum, work permit, green card, and citizenship applications from nationals of 39 African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries were unlawful.
What changed
The restrictions were imposed by the Trump administration in late 2025. McConnell’s decision vacates several related measures, including a broad freeze on immigration benefits, a global asylum hold policy, and additional country-specific review requirements. The judge also invalidated a USCIS policy that required immigrants from countries on the Trump administration’s travel ban list—who had already been approved for immigration benefits after entering the United States after 2021—to undergo a second review of their cases.
The ruling orders USCIS to promptly resume processing for the affected applications, though the government could seek to delay implementation while it considers an appeal.
Why it matters
The ruling compels USCIS to restart adjudications for thousands of cases that had been frozen, though how quickly that happens will depend on agency capacity and any further court orders. Immigration lawyers estimate that tens of thousands of applications were effectively frozen nationwide, clogging already backlogged systems and deepening uncertainty.
For practitioners, this means:
- Case status shifts immediately: Asylum officers and USCIS adjudicators must pick up files that have sat untouched for months, restoring a path toward work authorization and permanent status.
- Work authorization resumes: Clients whose I-765 applications were frozen can expect processing to restart, potentially restoring work eligibility after months without authorization.
- Secondary review blocks are lifted: The invalidation of the second-review requirement for approved applicants from the 39 countries means cases that passed initial adjudication can move to issuance without delay.
- Expectation management: Immigration practitioners say applicants should begin to see movement in the coming months as field offices and service centers receive new guidance rescinding the 39-country restrictions.
The Trump administration has not yet announced whether it will appeal. Reuters reported that Justice Department lawyers are reviewing the decision and could seek a stay at the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Any appeal or stay request could alter the timeline; confirm current status with USCIS before closing files.
Way forward
- Monitor USCIS guidance: Watch for updated policy alerts or field office memoranda confirming the freeze lift for all 39 countries. The ruling is binding, but implementation may lag.
- File for reopened cases: Clients with I-485, I-539, I-765, or asylum claims that were administratively closed or frozen should contact USCIS to request immediate adjudication or reactivation.
- Update work authorization strategy: If a client’s I-765 is in the frozen backlog, prepare to file a new I-765-C(9) application now that processing is restored; renewal may be faster than awaiting the old file.
- Track the appeal: Check the First Circuit docket (https://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/) for any motion for stay or notice of appeal from the DOJ. A stay would pause the injunction and reset the timeline; confirm with the client the status of their case before issuing updated advice.
Disclaimer
This article is written for informational purposes and is not legal advice. Fola Editorial is a software company, not a law firm. Always consult a licensed immigration attorney before making filing decisions, responding to USCIS notices, or advising a client on the status of a frozen case. Immigration policy can change without notice, including via appeal, stay, or legislative action. Verify all claims against the primary court decision and current USCIS guidance at https://www.uscis.gov/.