Federal judge voids immigration policy on applications from 39 countries

A federal judge on Friday struck down a policy that barred immigrants from 39 countries from receiving final decisions on asylum, work permits, green cards, and citizenship applications. U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. ’” The policy was enacted after the shooting of two National Guard members last year.

It applied to applicants from countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Background of the policy The policy affected U.S.

Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency within the Department of Homeland Security that processes applications for work authorization and citizenship. It did not apply to asylum claims filed at the border. The government argued that Congress granted broad authority over immigration benefits and that the policy provided necessary guidance for consistent decisions.

The court rejected that argument.

Reactions to the ruling Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, said the ruling “reaffirms a basic principle: the federal government cannot shut down lawful immigration pathways or discriminate against people based on where they come from.” Jamal Abdi, president of the National Iranian American Council, called the decision “a powerful precedent that the administration cannot ignore the law as laid down by Congress.” Shawn VanDiver, who leads a coalition supporting Afghan resettlement, said the ruling was “a significant victory for the rule of law and for thousands of Afghan allies and other immigrants.”