Federal Judge Blocks Trump Policy on Immigrant Biometric Checks

Judge Blocks Policy Halting Biometric Data Collection

A federal judge has halted a policy from the Trump administration that prevented detained immigrants from completing necessary biometric checks. U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali ruled that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not sufficiently justify its decision to stop collecting biometric information, such as fingerprints and photographs, from detained immigrants with pending applications.

Introduced in December 2025, this policy affected those seeking permanent residency, victims’ visas, and other humanitarian protections. Judge Ali’s ruling temporarily reinstates the process for biometric data collection while a lawsuit challenging the policy continues.

Impact and Background of the Policy

Throughout his second term, President Donald Trump increased enforcement on immigration. His administration expanded arrests and deportations, tightened asylum restrictions, and imposed barriers to legal migration. Officials defended these measures as necessary for border security and public safety, although many faced legal challenges.

“The government cannot create impossible barriers to legal relief and then punish people for failing to overcome them.” – Joint Statement by Democracy Forward, National Immigration Project, and National Immigrant Justice Center

Details of the DHS Policy

The December policy change by DHS resulted in a halt to the collection of fingerprints and biometrics, even from unaccompanied children. While Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) previously facilitated such processes, the administration shifted the responsibility, impacting the ability of detained immigrants to attend mandatory appointments, thus risking application denials.

USCIS argued that the policy aimed to deter frivolous claims and maintain consistency. However, detained individuals lacked the means to independently attend these biometric appointments, complicating their immigration processes.

Legal Challenge and Court’s Findings

In April, six detained immigrants filed a class-action lawsuit, asserting that the policy barred them from pursuing available protections. This group included trafficking and domestic violence survivors, among others, asserting that the policy breached immigration laws, due process rights, and federal decision-making standards. Judge Ali agreed that the policy was likely “arbitrary and capricious,” citing DHS’s inadequate consideration of its impact.

The court questioned the policy’s assertions of discouraging fraudulent applications, emphasizing that biometric data is essential for confirming eligibility for immigration benefits. A government attorney admitted uncertainty about how the policy achieved its intended goals.

Judicial Order and Next Steps

Judge Ali’s nationwide order suspends the policy and reestablishes DHS’s duty to collect biometric information for pending applications. The directive does not grant visas or immigration status but prevents deportation before application assessments. DHS must report compliance progress by October 21, while the core lawsuit remains pending.