In a major relief for immigrants, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island on June 5, 2026, vacated USCIS policies that had paused asylum and immigration-benefit applications from countries designated under the Travel Ban or labeled as “high-risk.”
The ruling also nullified a January 1, 2026 memorandum that expanded the hold to additional countries. The court found that the policies unlawfully delayed processing for thousands of applicants seeking asylum, work permits, green cards, and other immigration benefits. Immigration advocates welcomed the decision, saying it restores fair access to the U.S. immigration system and could allow affected applications to move forward once again.
