‘No Excuse’ to Continue Hold on Immigration Benefits, Judge Says

There’s no reason for the Trump administration to comply with an order lifting a months-long freeze on work permits and other immigration benefits, a federal judge in Rhode Island said.

Judge John J. McConnell already vacated US Citizenship and Immigration Services policies that forced many foreign workers out of jobs and jeopardized their lawful status in a June 5 order. The policies, which covered people from 39 “travel ban” countries, should be set aside because they violated the Administrative Procedure Act, he found.

The government has said it plans to appeal the ruling and seek a stay of the order. ...