A federal judge in Manhattan blocked the Trump administration on Tuesday from canceling more than $1.1 billion in unspent aid meant to help U.S. elementary and high schools address the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher rejected government arguments that retrieving the 20-year-old was pointless because a Department of Homeland Security agency determined last week that he would not qualify for asylum anyway.