US judge blocks Trump administration's immigration restrictions on 39 nations
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
A US federal judge has blocked immigration restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on nationals from 39 African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries. District Judge John McConnell ruled that the restrictions on asylum, work permits, green cards, and citizenship applications were unlawful. These policies were enacted following a November 26, 2025 shooting incident where an Afghan immigrant attacked two National Guard members, killing one. Judge McConnell stated that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services' USCIS actions had placed countless immigrants in "indeterminate legal limbo" and were based on "pretextual concerns of 'national security' that mask anti-immigrant sentiments." He concluded that USCIS's actions were "contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious." The judge emphasized that his role was to determine if policies "comport with the law," not to rule on their wisdom. The Afghan man charged in the shooting, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had entered the US as part of a resettlement program after the American military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and has pleaded not guilty.
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The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries has instructed all its branches across the country to conclude church programs by 8:00 PM and suspend vigils and overnight meetings indefinitely. This directive, issued in an internal memo dated June 5, 2026, and signed by Temitope A. Olawale, Director of Administration at the church's international headquarters in Lagos, cites increasing security concerns nationwide. The church stated that the decision prioritizes the safety and well-being of its members amidst current security challenges. All services, meetings, and other church activities must now end by 8:00 PM, and vigils may be converted to evening prayer programs concluding by the same time. The church emphasized that these precautionary measures are mandatory for all levels of the ministry and are intended to protect members given the prevailing security situation, which includes banditry, kidnapping, and attacks on rural communities.
Must ReadBoko Haram terrorists attacked a Nigerian Army base in Mandaragirau, Borno State, in the early hours of Friday, resulting in the deaths of five soldiers and three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force. The attack occurred under adverse weather conditions with heavy rainfall and poor visibility. According to Lt. Col. Haruna Sani, Acting Media Information Officer for Operation HADIN KAI, troops at the Forward Operating Base FOB Mandaragirau successfully contained the attack, launching a counter-offensive that inflicted casualties on the attackers. He stated that the troops remain in control of the FOB and are conducting exploitation operations. While acknowledging the loss of personnel, Sani emphasized that these failed attacks highlight the desperation of terrorist elements facing sustained operational pressure. Local sources, including the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, confirmed the incident, with some suggesting the insurgents operated for nearly an hour and that more than one location was attacked. Kaigama urged the government to enhance security measures and community engagement for improved intelligence gathering.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has nullified key aspects of a Federal High Court judgment that recognized a factional caretaker committee in the Peoples Democratic Party. Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, delivering the judgment, stated that the trial court, presided over by Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, granted reliefs that were not sought by any of the parties involved in the suit. Justice Agomoh had, on January 30, recognized the caretaker committee led by Abdurahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu as the legitimate leadership faction. However, the Court of Appeal found that none of the parties had requested such a declaration. The appellate court also noted that the legal basis for the Federal High Court's recognition of the committee had been invalidated by a Supreme Court judgment that nullified the PDP’s Ibadan Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025. The Court of Appeal concluded that any leadership structure or committee created or validated by that convention could not survive the Supreme Court's decision. The judgment, unanimously endorsed by Justices Mohammed Mustapha and Okon Abang, effectively nullifies the basis for the Federal High Court's recognition of the caretaker committee associated with the Abdurahman Mohammed faction, impacting the ongoing PDP leadership dispute.
Must ReadThe Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC has discovered an illegal detention camp in Badagry, Lagos State, leading to the rescue of 24 victims, including a toddler. Four suspected members of a cross-border criminal syndicate were arrested during the operation. The suspects, identified as nationals of Togo, Benin Republic, and Ghana, were apprehended by operatives of the Lagos State Command of the NSCDC in Itoga, Badagry. Lagos State Commandant Adedotun Keshinro stated that the success was due to intelligence gathering and community engagement, following credible information about criminal activities in the area. The rescued victims, comprising 18 males and six females, are nationals of Togo, Benin Republic, and Nigeria, and are believed to have been lured into the camps through inducements and deceptive means. Preliminary investigations revealed that some victims had been missing for periods ranging from three months to three years. Keshinro alleged that the suspects operated a scheme to extort money from victims' relatives by forcing victims to fabricate stories of kidnapping or accidents during phone calls. The perpetrators also allegedly compelled victims to engage in fraudulent activities, trade in hard drugs, and lure others into the camp. The commandant appealed to the public to help identify the rescued victims and confirmed that the suspects would be prosecuted after investigations are concluded. This incident follows a previous operation in April where the