Trump administration suffers double legal setback over immigration rules

What the report says

A federal judge in Boston and a coalition of Democratic-led states dealt the Trump administration two legal setbacks on immigration policy, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on Reuters. One ruling blocked a planned Department of Homeland Security rule that would have imposed fixed time limits on visas for international students, exchange visitors and journalists. The second came as New York, California, Illinois and other plaintiffs filed suit in Manhattan to stop a separate regulation expanding when immigrants can be denied green cards under the “public charge” standard.

The Boston case was brought by trade unions and higher education advocacy groups. The judge said the administration’s security and fraud arguments were weak, and the decision prevents the new visa limits from taking effect as scheduled. The challenged proposal would have capped student and exchange visas at four years and limited journalist visas to 240 days.

In New York, the states and local governments argue the administration exceeded its authority by trying to broaden how non-cash public benefits such as food assistance and Medicaid could be used against residency applicants. The policy would also extend scrutiny to benefits used by family members. The lawsuits seek to block a rule set to take effect later this week.

The disputes are significant because they could affect large numbers of international students, visitors and green card applicants, while also signaling another round of courtroom battles over Trump-era immigration restrictions.