Federal District Court Blocks Enforcement of Nonimmigrant Entry Ban Against Parties to Court Challenge

Judge Jeffrey S. White of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California has enjoined the Departments of State (DOS) and Homeland Security (DHS) from enforcing the Trump administration’s June 22 proclamation that suspended the entry of H-1B, L-1, H-2B and certain J-1 nonimmigrants, as well as their spouses and dependents, through December 31, 2020, with some exceptions.

The injunction is not nationwide in scope. It benefits only the plaintiffs and organizations that are members of the plaintiff trade groups. Plaintiffs include – the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Retail Federation and Technet, as well as Intrax, Inc., an organization that sponsors cultural exchange programs.

The injunction will remain in place while the ongoing legal challenge to the proclamation continues.  However, DOS and DHS are expected to appeal the ruling. The case is National Association of Manufacturers et al. v. DHS.