International
US Judge Orders USCIS to Resume Green Card Processing for Trump Travel Ban Victims
US Judge Orders USCIS to Resume Green Card Processing for Trump Travel Ban Victims
A United States federal judge, George L. Russell III, has ordered the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to resume processing green card applications for immigrants affected by former President Donald Trump’s expanded travel restrictions covering nationals from 39 countries.
The court ruled that USCIS acted unlawfully by placing immigration applications on indefinite hold without issuing final decisions. The judge emphasized that while immigration authorities have discretion to approve or deny applications, they are not permitted to completely stop processing them.
“USCIS does not have discretion to decide not to adjudicate at all,” Judge Russell wrote in a 39-page ruling delivered on Monday.
The US government had argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to interfere in immigration processing decisions. However, the judge rejected this argument, clarifying that the court was not ordering approvals but only requiring that applications be processed and decisions issued within a reasonable timeframe.
The ruling applies directly to 83 plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit challenging the indefinite suspension of their immigration applications. Legal experts say it could also influence similar cases involving thousands of other immigrants affected by the policy.
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Following the expansion of the travel restrictions in January, many immigrants from designated “high-risk countries” had their immigration processes paused. This included green card applications, visa renewals, and work authorisation permits.
Some applicants were unable to renew work permits, while international students under Optional Practical Training (OPT), particularly in STEM fields, also faced delays that affected their legal status and employment.
Advocacy group Project Pause Unpause, which supported the lawsuit, said USCIS collected over $1 billion in application fees from immigrants whose cases were not processed. The group described the ruling as a major victory for affected applicants, many of whom have lived in the US for years, paid taxes, and contributed to the economy.
USCIS defended the pause, saying it was necessary for enhanced national security screening of applicants from countries classified as high risk. The agency said the suspension allowed for more thorough vetting and insisted that protecting US citizens remains its top priority.
Although the court ruling does not guarantee approval of any application, it requires USCIS to stop leaving applicants in indefinite limbo and ensure timely decisions are made.
Legal analysts say the decision could set an important precedent for future cases involving immigration delays, administrative fairness, and due process rights in the United States.
Several African countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, are among those affected by the broader restrictions, leaving many long-term residents uncertain about their immigration status.
The case adds to ongoing legal challenges against immigration policies introduced during the Trump administration, many of which continue to face judicial scrutiny and revisions.
US Judge Orders USCIS to Resume Green Card Processing for Trump Travel Ban Victims
International
Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland
Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland
A holiday trip in Switzerland has ended in tragedy after a coach carrying 45 Dutch adults overturned in the eastern part of the country, killing five people and injuring the remaining passengers.
The crash occurred on Thursday afternoon on the road linking Susch and Zernez in the Graubünden region. Police said the vehicle went off the roadway while passing through an area where construction work was taking place before overturning.
Three of those injured are in serious condition, while another 37 people sustained less severe injuries. The driver, who is also Dutch, survived the crash but was among those taken for medical treatment.
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Authorities have begun investigating the incident and are working to establish what caused the coach to leave the road.
Tour operator Oad said the company was devastated by the deaths and described the incident as a deeply shocking tragedy.
The crash took place close to Zernez, a popular gateway to Switzerland’s National Park, a large Alpine nature reserve in the Engadine valley.
Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland
International
Iran’s President Seeks End to War as US Tightens Economic Pressure
Iran’s President Seeks End to War as US Tightens Economic Pressure
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said he does not support prolonging the war with the United States, while urging Iran to strengthen its economic and political resilience.
Speaking to university leaders, Pezeshkian said Tehran must avoid entering negotiations from a position of weakness, particularly as the US increases pressure through its Operation Economic Outcast campaign.
He called on universities to help the government tackle the country’s economic and social challenges, warning that poorly planned policies could worsen existing problems.
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Pezeshkian also urged young Iranians, including Generation Z students, to contribute to solving social problems rather than allowing frustration to fuel protests.
The president said he was willing to work with different political groups and anyone capable of helping Iran overcome its current difficulties.
His comments come amid growing pressure on Tehran to find a way forward. The conflict began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting Iranian missile and drone strikes against Israel and US positions across the region.
With Washington now intensifying economic pressure, Pezeshkian’s remarks reflect the challenge facing Tehran: resisting US demands while preventing the prolonged conflict and sanctions from further weakening the country.
Iran’s President Seeks End to War as US Tightens Economic Pressure
Africa
Murder of Nigerian Bishop in South Africa Sparks Outcry Over Unsolved Killings
Murder of Nigerian Bishop in South Africa Sparks Outcry Over Unsolved Killings
Family and community leaders rally for justice after 58-year-old cleric from Ekiti is assassinated in his Johannesburg residence.
To his congregation and loved ones, Nigerian clergyman Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle was a pillar of faith and moral guidance. But that sanctuary was violently shattered inside his Kensington home in Johannesburg when two gunmen forced their way inside and opened fire at point-blank range.
Hit more than seven times, the 58-year-old Ekiti native died at the scene, sending shockwaves across the Nigerian expatriate community and turning deep grief into a collective cry for justice.
Leading the push for accountability, the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) voiced the community’s sorrow and growing frustration with violent crime.
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Association leaders stressed that Bishop Fakunle’s family, church, and compatriots deserve clear answers rather than empty reassurances.
Urging South African investigators to act with speed and transparency, the group warned authorities against letting the tragedy become another forgotten statistic in an endless stack of unsolved homicides.
As detectives at Jeppe Police Station proceed with the murder inquiry, community heads are calling for robust oversight from Nigerian diplomats while urging the public to exercise restraint.
Despite the intense anger surrounding the brazen attack, leaders emphasized that justice must be pursued through legitimate legal channels.
As mourners across South Africa and Nigeria remember the slain bishop, their message to investigators remains clear: the community will not look away until those responsible are brought before a judge.
Murder of Nigerian Bishop in South Africa Sparks Outcry Over Unsolved Killings
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