Federal Judge Suspends Trump Administration Policy on Immigrant Biometric Collection

Introduction

A federal judge has ruled against a Trump administration policy that blocked detainees from completing mandatory fingerprint and background checks required for visa and immigration status applications. Judge Amir H. Ali criticized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for not adequately explaining its decision to cease collecting these biometric data from detained individuals with pending applications.

Policy Impact

Introduced in December 2025, the policy affected immigrants seeking various forms of legal immigration, such as permanent residency and visas for victims of trafficking and serious crimes, along with humanitarian protections. The judge’s decision temporarily restores the previous biometric collection process until the ongoing lawsuit against the policy reaches a conclusion.

Throughout his presidency, Donald Trump aggressively pursued immigration restrictions, including increased arrests, deportations, and reduced asylum and migration access. The administration argued its policies were critical for border and public safety, but many policies faced legal challenges.

Details of the DHS Policy

The policy announced in December stopped fingerprint, photograph, and biometric data collection from detained immigrants, including unaccompanied children, applying for legal status through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Biometric data are essential for verifying identities and conducting necessary checks during immigration applications.

Previously, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilitated these checks, arranging transportation to appointments. The administration removed ICE’s responsibilities but upheld rules allowing USCIS to deny applications if appointments weren’t attended. Detained immigrants couldn’t independently reach appointments, and their detainment wasn’t valid for rescheduling.

USCIS claimed the policy was designed to prevent frivolous applications while providing operational consistency.

Judge’s Rationale for Blocking the Policy

Six detained immigrants initiated a class-action lawsuit contesting the policy as obstructive to completing applications for federally allowed immigration protections. Plaintiffs included survivors of trafficking and domestic violence, a young abuse survivor, and an immigrant married to a U.S. citizen. Legal representatives claimed the policy contravened federal immigration law, constitutional due process, and the Administrative Procedure Act guiding federal agency decisions.

The judge determined plaintiffs were likely to demonstrate the policy was “arbitrary and capricious,” as DHS inadequately evaluated its implications. He called it a denial of relief for eligible immigrants without sufficient justification.

Judge Ali countered the administration’s claim that the policy would deter fraudulent applications, emphasizing that biometric data collection is crucial for assessing immigration benefit eligibility. During court proceedings, a government lawyer admitted, “That’s a good question. I don’t have an answer to that right now,” when queried about the policy’s objectives.

The judge voiced concern that the policy subjected applicants to prolonged detention and potential deportation before their petitions were reviewed.

Response to the Ruling

Three organizations advocating for the plaintiffs lauded the decision. Democracy Forward, the National Immigration Project, and the National Immigrant Justice Center issued a statement condemning the administration’s policy: “The Trump-Vance administration created an impossible trap: require people to provide biometrics to seek legal protections, refuse to collect them, and then deny their applications for failing to comply.” They asserted that “No one should be forced to choose between deportation to danger and a legal process designed to fail.”

Despite defending the policy, the Trump administration insisted detained immigrants could request biometric collection via ICE, and some could pursue immigration after deportation.

Future Steps

Judge Ali’s ruling suspends the policy nationwide and reinstates DHS’s responsibility for biometric collection from detained individuals with pending USCIS applications during the ongoing litigation. The decision neither guarantees visas, immigration status, nor detainee releases.

The DHS is required to report compliance by October 21. The lawsuit remains unresolved.