The change is likely to affect hundreds of thousands of people. It could also lead to more family separations as spouses or relatives wait for application decisions, immigration lawyers said.
The move deals an embarrassing blow to the Trump administration, which made the Maryland man, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the face of its deportation campaign.
The move was expected to come after a federal appeals court on Friday ruled against Mr. Khalil, who became the face of President Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian protesters.
Republicans, seeing President Trump’s personal agenda diverging from their political interests, vented their outrage about paying those who threatened their lives on Jan. 6, 2021.
The constellation of individuals and groups involved claims to have suffered partisan attacks by the federal government under Trump, yet would not be compensated.