A federal judge in the United States has struck down a controversial immigration policy introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration, clearing the way for immigrants from Nigeria and 38 other countries to move forward with long-delayed immigration applications.
The ruling, delivered by U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr., invalidates a policy that was enacted following the shooting of two National Guard members last year. The measure had effectively prevented immigrants from dozens of African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern nations from receiving final decisions on applications for asylum, work permits, green cards, and citizenship.
Among the countries affected by the policy were Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Benin, and several others. Additional restrictions also targeted nationals from countries including Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Mali, Niger, and Haiti.
In a strongly worded ruling, Judge McConnell criticized the actions of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), arguing that the agency exceeded its legal authority and failed to follow proper procedures.
According to the judge, the policy left thousands of immigrants trapped in legal uncertainty, unable to obtain decisions that could determine their ability to work, remain in the country, or secure permanent residency.
He further accused USCIS of using national security concerns as a justification for policies that were not adequately supported by law, describing the agency’s actions as arbitrary and unlawful.
The decision was welcomed by immigration advocates and civil rights organizations. Skye Perryman, whose organization represented the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said the ruling reinforces the principle that the government cannot restrict lawful immigration pathways based solely on a person’s country of origin.
Advocates argued that the policy caused significant hardship for families, workers, asylum seekers, and communities across the United States by leaving applicants in limbo for extended periods.
The challenged policies applied specifically to USCIS, the agency responsible for processing immigration benefits such as work authorization, citizenship, and many asylum applications. The ruling does not affect asylum cases decided by immigration judges at the U.S. border.
The federal government had defended the policy, arguing that Congress grants the executive branch broad authority over immigration matters and the discretion to determine eligibility for certain immigration benefits. However, the court ultimately rejected that argument.
Immigration groups hailed the decision as a major legal victory and a significant check on executive power. They say the ruling sends a clear message that immigration policies must comply with existing laws and cannot be implemented in a discriminatory or arbitrary manner.
For thousands of immigrants from Nigeria and other affected nations, the judgment could now reopen pathways that had been effectively frozen, allowing long-pending applications to proceed and offering renewed hope for legal status, employment authorization, and citizenship opportunities in the United States.#newsafro_
