KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A U.S. federal judge ruled Friday that the Trump administration “unlawfully” denied citizens of 39 countries, including Afghanistan, access to asylum, work permits, green cards, and U.S. citizenship.
According to Reuters, John McConnell, chief judge in Providence, Rhode Island, found that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had adopted a set of unlawful policies targeting citizens of 39 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
He found that thousands of applicants who had met legal requirements were left in prolonged uncertainty after their cases were paused, delayed, or effectively frozen under the policy.
The measures were introduced beginning in late 2025 following a shooting incident involving an Afghan national. The Trump administration expanded travel restrictions and directed USCIS to suspend, or place holds on immigration benefits for nationals of 39 countries it designated as “high-risk,” citing national security concerns and gaps in vetting systems.
Afghan applicants were among the most affected, including individuals who had undergone extensive vetting under U.S. programs for those who assisted American forces during the Afghanistan mission. Many reported cancelled citizenship ceremonies, expired work permits, and suspended green card applications, leaving long-term residents in legal uncertainty.
Judge McConnell wrote that “the rule of law has to apply to everyone equally and, as evident here, USCIS has neither ‘followed the law’ nor ‘done things the right way,'” he wrote. “Indeed, the agency has violated the very immigration laws that Congress has charged it with administering, as well as the administrative laws that govern the agency’s actions.”
The ruling marked a victory for a coalition of immigrant service organizations and labor unions that filed a lawsuit in March challenging USCIS policies, arguing they were intended to leave affected immigrants in prolonged legal uncertainty and pressure them to abandon their cases.
Shawn VanDiver, president of the veterans coalition Afghan Evac, called the ruling a significant victory for the rule of law and “thousands of Afghan allies”. “We welcome this decision, expect the administration to appeal, and will continue working with veterans, advocates, lawmakers, and impacted families to ensure that Afghan allies receive the fair treatment and due process they deserve,” he said.
Under U.S. law, the Trump administration is expected to appeal the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, with a further appeal possible to the Supreme Court. Unless a higher court grants a stay, USCIS must resume processing affected cases in line with existing immigration statutes and federal regulations.
