Court halts Trump-era freeze on U.S. immigration benefits for 39 countries

A Rhode Island federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s plan to freeze work permits, green cards, citizenship applications and other immigration benefits for noncitizens from 39 countries affected by the travel bans, ruling the measures unlawfully targeted people based on nationality and could leave hundreds of thousands in limbo; the decision restarts processing and requires rescheduling of naturalization ceremonies, with the government likely able to appeal to the First Circuit.