A federal judge has struck sweeping restrictions imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump on immigration processing for 39 countries. District Judge John McConnell ruled Friday on restrictions imposed in November 2025, following the Washington, DC shooting of two National Guard members. If you have clients from these nations waiting for asylum, green card, work authorization, or citizenship decisions, this ruling requires an immediate shift in your case strategy.
What changed
The policy effectively barred citizens from 39 countries from receiving final decisions on asylum cases, green cards, work approval and citizenship applications. USCIS enacted the policies at the end of 2025, with the administration attributing them to the November shooting. After that incident, USCIS suspended the adjudication of all asylum applications and decided that if an applicant for immigration benefits is from one of the 39 countries subject to the government’s travel ban, then that applicant’s case would be frozen.
In early December and January, USCIS further froze applications indefinitely and implemented a re-review of already approved benefits.
In a strongly worded 135-page ruling, McConnell said the policies adopted by USCIS had left large numbers of immigrants trapped in prolonged uncertainty. The judge found USCIS “claims statutory and regulatory authority that it does not possess; makes decisions without the reasoned explanations that it must provide; 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.” He concluded USCIS’s actions are “contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious.”
Why it matters
For six months or longer, your clients from these 39 African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries have been in legal limbo—unable to work, obtain green cards, or finalize citizenship even though they had filed lawfully and met statutory requirements. McConnell wrote that these immigrants were following the rules but were nonetheless unlawfully targeted because of where they came from, noting that “This case serves as a perfect example of immigrants doing just that.”
The USCIS rule changes led to the widespread cancellation of naturalization ceremonies for affected immigrants. Those ceremonies will now be rescheduled, thanks to McConnell’s ruling. Similarly, frozen I-485 and I-131/I-765 cases must now be adjudicated on the merits.
The ruling eliminates the freeze entirely and removes the justification USCIS had been using to deny work permits and defer decisions. The measures had placed a hold on processing immigration benefit applications from people in the 39 countries subject to Trump’s full or partial travel bans, which he has justified on vetting and security grounds. The judge rejected those justifications.
Way forward
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Resume pending case tracking: Review all clients from the 39 affected countries with pending N-400, I-485, I-131/I-765, or asylum cases. The freeze is now void; expect USCIS to resume adjudication. Monitor your client accounts on myUSCIS for movement.
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Resubmit cancelled N-400 ceremony notices: If your client’s naturalization ceremony was cancelled, contact USCIS to reschedule. Provide updated evidence of continuous residence and physical presence if the cancellation occurred more than 6 months ago.
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File protective motions or new applications if applicable: If a client’s authorization period expired during the freeze, you may need to file a stay-of-removal or apply for a new work permit. Document the freeze as the cause of the delay for administrative record purposes.
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Monitor the appeal: The government can appeal the opinion to the First Circuit, though that liberal-leaning circuit has been historically unkind to Trump’s immigration agenda. Advise clients that while this ruling is binding now, the government may challenge it. Do not advise clients that their status is final until appellate time has run or the First Circuit affirms.
Disclaimer
This article is a summary of a federal court ruling and is not legal advice. Fola is software, not a law firm. Immigration policy and federal court orders are complex and fact-specific. Consult a licensed immigration attorney to determine how this ruling applies to your client’s specific situation. Verify this information directly against the court opinion and track any appeals or further agency guidance. Appellate decisions and agency responses can change the legal landscape without notice.