Judge Blocks Halt of Green Cards for Travel Ban Countries

U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick issued a preliminary injunction on April 30, 2026, blocking the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services from enforcing policies that stopped the processing of green cards and work permits for people from countries on the travel ban list. The ruling determines that the policies, which were adopted in November, were discriminatory and unlawful.

Kobick found that the government's actions likely violated the Immigration and Nationality Act's prohibition against nationality-based discrimination. The decision follows a lawsuit filed in December by approximately 200 individuals representing 20 countries, including Syria, Venezuela, Haiti, and Iran.

The injunction currently protects 22 plaintiffs who provided declarations of harm. The court has directed the involved parties to determine whether the order will extend to the remaining plaintiffs in the lawsuit.