A federal judge on Friday struck down a series of unlawful immigration policies adopted by the Trump administration. U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. in Providence, Rhode Island, ruled that the policies barred individuals from 39 African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries from receiving final decisions on their applications for asylum, work permits, green cards, and citizenship.
These measures, which were enacted following the shooting of two National Guard members, had made it more difficult for immigrants from dozens of countries to enter and remain in the United States. The court's decision voided four policies, forcing the administration to resume processing the affected immigration and asylum applications.
Judge McConnell stated that the restrictions had thrown the lives of countless immigrants living in the United States into an indeterminate legal limbo. He noted that the policies were motivated by anti-immigrant sentiment and had effectively put the lives of many individuals on hold.