WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A United States (US) federal judge on Friday blocked a series of restrictions placed by President Donald Trump’s administration on legal immigration following last year’s shooting of two members of the National Guard by an Afghan immigrant.

District Judge John McConnell said the restrictions on asylum, work permit, green card and citizen applications from nationals of 39 African, Asian, Latin American and Middle Eastern countries were unlawful.

The restrictions were imposed after the November 26, 2025 shooting in Washington of the National Guard members by an Afghan man who immigrated to the United States following the Taliban takeover in Kabul.