A U.S. judge has ordered immigration authorities to resume processing applications for Nigerians and other affected nationals, delivering another setback to a Trump-era policy that stalled cases based on country of origin.
A U.S. court has ordered the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to immediately resume processing immigration applications affected by a policy linked to Donald Trump, which placed a hold on applicants from 39 countries, including Nigeria. Judge Julia Kobick of the District of Massachusetts ruled that the agency must lift the restriction for the affected plaintiffs.
The decision marks another legal setback for the Trump-era policy, following a similar ruling by George Russell in Maryland, who also ordered the resumption of application processing for dozens of affected individuals. The policy had stalled work permits, asylum requests, and green card applications for legal residents based on their country of origin.
Applicants, including international students and professionals, had argued that the indefinite delays were discriminatory and unlawful. The ruling, seen as a victory for immigration lawyer James Hacking and his clients, comes amid claims that the agency continued collecting over $1 billion in fees despite failing to process applications.
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