USCIS Thông Báo Mới: Judge Strikes Down Freeze Affecting 39 Travel-Ban Countries

A U.S. federal judge has issued a ruling striking down a USCIS administrative freeze that had suspended immigration processing for nationals of 39 countries subject to travel ban restrictions. The decision represents a significant legal setback for the policy and offers relief to thousands of applicants whose cases had been placed on hold. The freeze had effectively paused adjudication of various immigration benefits—including employment-based green card petitions—for individuals from the affected countries. Legal advocates argued the freeze was unlawfully imposed without proper rulemaking procedures, a position the court ultimately upheld. For EB-3 applicants from the 39 designated countries, the ruling could mean the resumption of case processing that had been indefinitely delayed. USCIS has not yet issued formal guidance on how it will implement the court's order, leaving many applicants in a period of uncertainty. Immigration attorneys advise affected clients to monitor their case status closely and consult with legal counsel regarding next steps. The government may appeal the ruling, which could introduce further delays before processing fully resumes. This decision adds to a growing body of court rulings that have challenged executive-branch immigration enforcement actions in 2026, reflecting ongoing legal tensions over the scope of USCIS and DHS administrative authority.