- A federal judge has ruled that President Donald Trump 's administration illegally discriminated against "countless" immigrants by categorically barring asylum seekers , green card applicants, and citizenship seekers based solely on their country of birth.
- U.S. District Judge John McConnell found that the administration unlawfully used national security concerns as a pretext to "mask anti-immigrant sentiments" when justifying its sweeping immigration policies for nationals of roughly 40 countries.
- The ruling specifically vacates four policies, including the indefinite suspension of asylum claims, a "benefits hold" freezing applications from countries impacted by the administration's "travel ban," and requirements to revisit approved benefits or consider country-specific factors in decisions.
- Judge McConnell emphasized that immigrants had "followed the law" by filing appropriate paperwork and attending required hearings, while the Trump administration had "neither followed the law nor done things the right way."
- While immigrant advocates praised the decision as a "welcome relief" for thousands, a Department of Homeland Security general counsel criticized the ruling as "sabotage dressed in legal clothing," arguing it was another instance of "animus" claims against the administration's policies.
IN FULL
Judge strikes down Trump’s ‘anti-immigrant’ policies blocking asylum and green card applicants
