Chief U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. on Wednesday declined to set aside his June 5 order that struck down the federal government’s suspension of asylum processing for nearly 39 countries, leaving intact a ruling that benefits two Providence-based nonprofits challenging the policy.
Judge cites timing and lack of persuasive evidence
The judge denied a request by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to put the injunction on hold while the government appeals. In his ruling, McConnell said officials had not offered convincing reasons to reverse the earlier decision and suggested the agency undercut its own arguments by the way it presented evidence.
"It's been a month since the court ruled. If national security were so at stake, why didn't you ask me to stop the implementation immediately?"
The lawsuit was filed by Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island and the Refugee Dream Center, both based in Providence, which argued the freeze was unlawful. At a hearing that stretched nearly an hour before his June ruling, McConnell questioned the government’s approach and the rationale behind the list of countries affected.
Government points to vetting, judge finds gaps
USCIS argued that the court’s ruling interfered with national security screening, filing an affidavit from Deputy Director Angelica Alfonso-Royals to support the request for an emergency stay.
"As a result, USCIS may miss critical national security, public safety, or integrity concerns that put the American people and the lawful immigration system at risk,"
McConnell pushed back on that assertion, noting both the delay in seeking emergency relief and apparent inconsistencies in the government’s evidence. The affidavit included a list of 10 countries described as having limited identity management systems — yet the judge pointed out that three cited examples, including Ethiopia, Liberia and Pakistan, were not even covered by the travel pause.
What happened when: timeline
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| November (prior year) | Federal authorities suspended certain immigration work permits and benefits following a shooting in Washington, D.C. |
| June 5 | Judge McConnell issued an order blocking the administration's freeze on asylum processing for nearly 39 countries. |
| June 19 | USCIS filed a motion seeking an emergency stay of the judge's order. |
| July 15 | Judge McConnell denied the request to pause his June order. |
Local impact and broader implications
For Providence-based organizations that provide legal and resettlement services, the decision maintains the status quo and allows asylum applications from the affected countries to proceed. That outcome is likely to ease immediate operational disruptions for local nonprofits assisting arriving migrants and asylum seekers.
More broadly, the ruling signals a skeptical federal judiciary review of how the administration enacted and justified the freeze. The denial of emergency relief means the case will proceed on appeal with the June injunction remaining in effect for now.
- Parties involved: Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island; Refugee Dream Center; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- Key officials quoted: Chief U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr.; USCIS Deputy Director Angelica Alfonso-Royals; DOJ attorney Tyler Becker was present at the hearing.
- Next steps: The government may continue its appeal while the injunction stands.
The case remains an important test of how courts will weigh national security claims against statutory and constitutional limits on immigration policy — and it carries immediate consequences for groups in Rhode Island that serve asylum seekers and refugees.
