Green Card Applicants Get Major Court Win Against Trump Travel Ban

A federal judge has blocked key Trump administrationimmigration policies that froze green card, asylum and work permit decisions tied to the White House's expanded travel ban.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell, appointed by former Democratic President Barack Obama, ruled the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) directives-adopted after the November 2025 National Guard shooting in Washington, D.C.-were likely unlawful. The policies had halted asylum adjudications and placed indefinite holds on immigration benefit applications for people from dozens of designated countries.

The Rhode Island judge wrote, “In ruling on these motions, the Court is reminded of a line often repeated in discussions around immigration policy: If people wish to immigrate to the United States, they ought to "follow the law" and "do things the right way." This case serves as a perfect example of immigrants doing just that.”

“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 decision marks a legal setback for the administration's effort to extend travel restrictions into the processing of applications for those already in the United States, including green card seekers.

Newsweek has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security via email on Friday morning for comment.

This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 8:56 AM.