On Thursday, US District Judge Julia Kobick in Boston ruled that the Trump administration's immigration policies, which made it more difficult for individuals from countries on the travel ban list to obtain green cards and work permits, are discriminatory and unlawful. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by approximately 200 individuals from 20 countries, including Iran, Haiti, Venezuela, and Syria. The judge issued a preliminary injunction against the policies adopted by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in November 2025, which treated nationality from these countries as a 'significant negative factor' in application reviews. Judge Kobick concluded that these policies likely violated the Immigration and Nationality Act's prohibition against nationality-based discrimination. The ruling blocks USCIS from enforcing these policies against 22 plaintiffs who demonstrated harm due to the halt on their applications, and the judge has called for discussions on whether this order should extend to the remaining plaintiffs. This decision marks a significant legal victory for those challenging the discriminatory practices of the immigration system.