A federal judge in Rhode Island has struck down key Trump administration immigration policies, delivering a significant victory to a coalition of immigrant advocacy groups, including the Refugee Dream Center founded by Gambian immigrant and pro-immigration leader Dr. Omar Bah.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. issued a 135-page ruling vacating several U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policies challenged in the case Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island et al. v. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services et al. The policies, implemented under the Trump-Vance administration, included restrictions on asylum processing, visa bans affecting nationals of approximately 39 countries, suspensions of green card applications, and limitations on benefits for immigrants deemed to be from “high-risk” nations. These measures had placed millions of applicants—both inside and outside the U.S.—in prolonged legal limbo.
The lawsuit, filed on March 5, 2026, by Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, the Refugee Dream Center, and partners including labor unions like SEIU and UAW, as well as other immigrant service organizations, argued that the policies violated the Administrative Procedure Act and undermined the rule of law by arbitrarily targeting individuals based on nationality and birthplace.
Dr. Omar Bah, a Gambian refugee, torture survivor, former journalist, and founder of the Refugee Dream Center in Providence, played a prominent role in the litigation.
In a joint statement following the ruling, Bah expressed pride in the outcome: “We just won our federal case against the Trump Administration’s immigration policies, including a visa ban on 39 countries, asylum, green card, benefits ban, etc affecting millions both within and outside the United States. I commend all the partners, including Refugee Dream Center, Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, and the many lawyers and partners who put in the sweat on this. I am proud to have been part of this lawsuit. And as we celebrate this triumph over Trump, we remember to be thankful for living in a society governed by the rule of law.”
Bah, who arrived in the U.S. as a refugee and built the Refugee Dream Center to support newcomers with integration, education, and legal services, has long been a vocal advocate for immigrant rights. His organization has assisted thousands of refugees and asylum seekers in Rhode Island, many affected by the now-vacated policies.
In the court’s press release and statements from plaintiffs, leaders hailed the decision as a reaffirmation of American values. Milagro Sique, Chief Executive Officer of Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, said the ruling “gives us some reassurance that all is not lost and allows those who have been impacted to move forward with their lives in a meaningful way.”
Dr. Bah added: “This ruling reaffirms the American doctrine of the rule of law, and a place of refuge and equality for all that call it home. Communities, people, neighbors, families, fellow Americans, have suffered from these four (and many other) arbitrary policies of the Trump Administration. We always believed they were wrong policies, and today we have been vindicated.”
Kevin Love Hubbard, Counsel for the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island, emphasized: “The Court recognized that the government cannot throw the lives of immigrants who followed all the rules into indefinite limbo simply because of where they were born.” The ruling is expected to allow thousands of families, workers, and asylum seekers to have their applications processed fairly.
The decision comes amid ongoing national debates over immigration enforcement. Critics of the policies viewed them as necessary for national security and resource management, while advocates argued they created unnecessary barriers for legal immigrants and refugees who had already undergone extensive vetting.
Plaintiffs described the victory as restoring opportunities for future citizens and providing relief to communities burdened by uncertainty. The full opinion and related documents are available through court records.
This outcome highlights the role of nonprofit organizations like the Refugee Dream Center in shaping immigration policy through litigation, particularly in sanctuary-leaning states like Rhode Island. As implementation of the ruling proceeds, observers expect renewed processing of affected applications nationwide.
