Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump USCIS Hold On Benefits For 39 Travel-Ban Countries
U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. struck down a Trump administration policy that paused final immigration benefit decisions for people from 39 travel-ban countries on Friday, June 5, 2026, in Boston.[1]
The decision covers pauses on final asylum, green card and citizenship decisions for people from the 39 listed countries, and McConnell said the policy left "countless immigrants" in "indeterminate legal limbo." MS NOW DHS General Counsel James Percival denounced the ruling as "sabotage dressed in legal clothing," and plaintiff groups represented in part by Democracy Forward said the pauses stopped families, workers and asylum seekers from working and accessing protections.[2] The Justice Department had argued that Congress gave the executive broad authority over immigration, but the court denied its motion to dismiss.[1]
In late December 2025 the administration expanded the travel-ban list from 19 to 39 countries, and the policy categorically barred final decisions on asylum, work permits, green cards and citizenship for immigrants born in those countries.[2] Many plaintiffs had already filed paperwork, paid fees and provided biometric data, and McConnell noted they had "followed the law" in pursuing benefits.[2]
McConnell limited the ruling to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) benefits adjudications and said it does not affect asylum decisions made by immigration judges for people stopped at the border.[1] In May 2026 the administration announced, then partly walked back, a separate rule requiring most people to apply for status from their home countries, part of a broader push to narrow legal pathways.[2]
McConnell found USCIS had claimed authority it did not possess, failed to explain the pause and ignored applicants' reliance interests, and he called the policy "contrary to law" and "arbitrary and capricious," saying the national-security rationale was "pretextual." PBS
Show source details & analysis (3 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, June 5, 2026, U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. issued a ruling striking down the Trump administration policy that categorically barred final decisions on asylum, work permits, green cards and citizenship for immigrants from 39 countries (U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr.).
- The decision covers pauses on final asylum, green card and citizenship decisions for individuals from any of the 39 countries on the current travel-ban list, which was expanded from 19 to 39 in late December 2025 (pauses on final asylum, green card and citizenship decisions).
- McConnell said the policies left "countless immigrants" in "indeterminate legal limbo" and hinged "solely" on place of birth rather than case merits, noting many plaintiffs had already filed paperwork, paid fees and provided biometric data (indeterminate legal limbo).
- The ruling is limited to USCIS benefits adjudications and explicitly does not affect asylum decisions made by immigration judges for people stopped at the border (USCIS benefits adjudications).
- McConnell wrote that USCIS had claimed statutory and regulatory authority it did not possess, failed to provide reasoned explanations, ignored applicants' reliance interests, and relied on "pretextual" national-security concerns that masked anti-immigrant sentiments, deeming the policy "contrary to law" and "arbitrary and capricious" (USCIS had claimed statutory and regulatory authority it did not possess).
- The Justice Department had argued in a motion to dismiss that Congress gave the executive broad authority over immigration, including to confer or withdraw discretionary benefits under the statutory scheme, but the court denied that motion (Justice Department).
- DHS General Counsel James Percival denounced the ruling as "sabotage dressed in legal clothing," saying critics have used animus-based legal challenges against virtually every Trump-era DHS policy (DHS General Counsel James Percival).
- Plaintiff groups, represented in part by Democracy Forward, said the unlawful policies prevented families, workers and asylum seekers from working, accessing protections and moving forward with their lives (Plaintiff groups).
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Friday, June 5, 2026, U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island ruled that Trump administration policies pausing final USCIS decisions for people from 39 travel-ban countries were unlawful.
- The decision covers pauses on final asylum, green card and citizenship decisions for individuals from any of the 39 countries on the current travel-ban list, which was expanded from 19 to 39 in late December 2025.
- McConnell wrote that the policies left "countless immigrants" in "indeterminate legal limbo" and said they hinged "solely" on place of birth rather than case merits.
- The ruling states that USCIS claimed statutory and regulatory authority it "does not possess," failed to provide reasoned explanations, ignored applicants' reliance interests, and used "pretextual" national-security concerns that masked anti-immigrant sentiments.
- DHS General Counsel James Percival denounced the ruling in a statement to MS NOW, calling animus-based legal challenges "sabotage dressed in legal clothing" and asserting that critics have used similar claims against virtually every Trump-era DHS policy.
- Plaintiff groups, represented in part by Democracy Forward, said the unlawful policies prevented families, workers and asylum seekers from working, accessing protections and moving forward with their lives.
- The article notes that in May 2026 the administration announced, and then partly walked back, a separate policy requiring most people seeking to adjust legal status to apply from their home countries, reflecting a broader push to limit legal pathways.
- McConnell emphasized that many plaintiffs had already filed paperwork, paid fees and provided biometric data, writing that they had "followed the law" and "done things the right way" in pursuing immigration benefits.
- On Friday, June 5, 2026, in Boston, U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. issued a ruling striking down the Trump administration policy that, after the National Guard shooting, categorically barred final decisions on asylum, work permits, green cards, and citizenship for immigrants from 39 countries.
- McConnell wrote that USCIS claimed statutory and regulatory authority it lacked, failed to provide reasoned explanations, ignored applicants' reliance interests, and relied on "pretextual" national security concerns masking anti-immigrant sentiments, deeming the policy "contrary to law" and "arbitrary and capricious."
- The ruling focuses on USCIS benefits adjudications and explicitly does not affect asylum decisions made by immigration judges for people stopped at the border.
- The article emphasizes that the policies left immigrants from the 39 listed African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries in "indeterminate legal limbo" by categorically barring final decisions on their applications.
- The Justice Department had argued in a motion to dismiss (denied by the court) that Congress gave the executive branch broad authority over immigration, including to confer or withdraw discretionary benefits under the statutory scheme.