A federal judge has nullified a Trump administration policy that made it difficult for immigrants from numerous countries to reside and enter the United States. This policy was introduced following an incident involving National Guard members.
In his ruling, Judge John McConnell Jr. criticized the policy, saying it placed the lives of numerous immigrants in a legal limbo. He accused the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of disregarding the law.
“By enacting its recent immigration policies, USCIS assumed statutory and regulatory powers it does not possess,” McConnell wrote. “These actions are against the law and are arbitrary and capricious.”
The policies in question affected immigrants from 39 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. They prohibited these individuals from receiving decisions on applications for asylum, work permits, residency cards, and citizenship.
Skye Perryman, CEO of Democracy Forward, represented the plaintiffs in the case. She stated, This ruling reinforces a basic principle: the federal government cannot close legal immigration paths or discriminate based on origin.
The policies applied to USCIS, which manages immigrant work and citizenship applications. The agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security, can often grant asylum but only to those already in the U.S.
The ruling will impact all pending USCIS cases for individuals from affected countries. Shev Dalal-Dheini of the American Immigration Lawyers Association noted, This is a significant legal victory to ensure legal immigration routes remain open.
In its motion to dismiss, the government argued it had broad authority over immigration policy, including entering and exiting the U.S., as well as discretion over various benefits.
This ruling has been praised by immigration groups. Jamal Abdi, president of the National Iranian American Council, stated, This sets a precedent that the government cannot ignore laws established by Congress.
Shawn VanDiver, leader of the Afghan resettlement coalition #AfghanEvac, described the ruling as a significant victory for the rule of law and for many Afghan allies and other immigrants who fulfilled all requirements.
He shared experiences of individuals in Dallas and Fort Worth worried about losing jobs due to delayed work permit renewals.