Thousands of immigrants, including hopeful applicants from Kenya, have received a major boost after a U.S. federal court ordered the immediate resumption of stalled Green Card applications ahead of the Diversity Visa lottery reopening later this year.
In a landmark ruling issued on Tuesday, the court found that the indefinite freeze on processing applications linked to countries under travel restrictions was unlawful. The judgment directed the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediately resume handling the affected cases.
According to the ruling, immigration authorities cannot simply stop processing applications indefinitely, especially for individuals who had already submitted all required documents and met eligibility requirements. At least 83 applicants involved in the legal challenge are expected to benefit immediately from the decision, with the ruling likely to set a precedent for many more pending cases.
The freeze had affected applicants from 39 countries, many of whom were already living legally in the United States and had been left in uncertainty for months. Critics had strongly condemned the move, arguing that it unfairly punished immigrants who had followed all legal procedures.
The court’s decision comes as the Green Card Lottery programme prepares to reopen, reigniting hope for thousands of Kenyans who have historically benefited from the Diversity Visa scheme. Kenya has consistently ranked among the countries with a high number of applicants seeking permanent relocation to the U.S.
The ruling is expected to spark fresh debate over U.S. immigration policy, especially after the programme had previously been suspended following tighter vetting measures and travel restrictions. For many families, however, the decision signals renewed hope of finally realizing the American dream.