Key facts
- A federal judge temporarily blocked a Trump administration rule that would shorten refugee appeal times.
- The rule would have reduced the appeal period to 10 days from 30 days.
- The block is in effect until November 6.
- The Department of Homeland Security estimated the rule would affect up to 186,000 refugees.
A federal judge in Boston on Tuesday temporarily blocked a rule from the Trump administration that would have significantly reduced the time refugees have to contest decisions to strip them of their legal status. US District Judge Julia Kobick issued an order that puts the rule, issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services on October 14, on hold through November 6. Refugee advocacy groups sought the order as part of a lawsuit challenging the rule, which would have cut the appeal period to 10 days from 30 days. The Department of Homeland Security had estimated the new rule would affect as many as 186,000 refugees.