Rhode Island Judge Vacates USCIS Policies on Travel Ban Countries

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A Rhode Island judge has vacated and set aside U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policies that targeted individuals from 39 countries affected by the travel ban. This ruling, issued by Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., addresses a freeze on work permits and other benefits that had been in place for the past six months.

Judge McConnell criticized the policies, stating, “When USCIS first enacted the policies at the center of this litigation, the agency did not simply place a hold on adjudications. More fundamentally, the Challenged Policies placed the lives of countless individuals on hold—solely by virtue of their countries of birth.” He noted that many affected individuals remain without work, legal status, or any meaningful ability to plan for their futures.

Work Permits on US Immigration, Explained Daily

Rhode Island Judge Vacates USCIS Policies on Travel Ban Countries