Travel Ban Lift 2026: US Judge Orders USCIS & State Dept to Restore 39 Countries

A US federal judge issued a landmark ruling on Friday, June 5, 2026, ordering the lift of a travel ban that had affected nationals from 39 countries seeking entry to or immigration benefits in the United States. The ruling compels both USCIS and the Department of State to reverse restrictions that had been in place for those nationals. For EB-3 employment-based immigration applicants from the affected 39 countries, this ruling carries significant implications. Individuals whose visa interviews, consular processing, or adjustment of status applications had been stalled or denied under the travel ban may now see their cases resume or be reconsidered. The court's intervention signals a judicial check on executive travel restriction authority, potentially affecting thousands of pending immigration cases. Applicants from the listed countries are advised to monitor their case status through USCIS and consult with their immigration attorneys regarding any previously suspended proceedings. While full details of the ruling and the complete list of the 39 affected countries are still emerging, immigration practitioners expect USCIS and the State Department to issue operational guidance in the coming days on how to process cases that were impacted by the now-lifted ban. EB-3 applicants and their employers should stay alert for official USCIS announcements and consider proactively contacting their consulates or filing updated inquiries if their cases were previously delayed under travel ban provisions.