District Court Strikes Down Four USCIS Policies That Paused Processing of  Immigration Benefits

UPDATE: On June 12, 2026, USCIS stated that though it disagrees with the court’s opinion, it will abide by its order, which vacated the USCIS adjudicative holds, meaning the holds will no longer be enforced by USCIS. However, the federal agency suggests that they are considering  “further judicial review,” indicating a stay (which would pause implementation of the court’s order) and/or an appeal. 

The vacated policy memos barred individuals from certain countries from having their cases fully adjudicated and sought to review certain already approved cases on the basis of national security and vetting. USCIS states that it will provide further instructions, “pending further litigation developments.”

Four U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy changes must be reversed, following a U.S. district court decision on June 5. These policies blocked processing for those certain immigrants seeking benefits and reopened already-approved cases for people from countries affected by the USCIS adjudicative hold. 

District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell ruled that USCIS implemented the following policies without legal authority; he also determined that they violate the law:

• Global Asylum Hold: Barring full processing of asylum applications
• Benefits Hold:  Freezing final decisions on Green Card, work permit, citizenship, and other benefits applications for petitions and applications from  certain countries
• Comprehensive Re-Review of Adjudicated Benefits Requests: Reexamining benefits already granted to individuals from certain countries
• Use of Country-Specific Factors in Adjudication: A Policy Manual change treating country-specific factors, like insufficient screening, as negative discretionary factors

In its decision, the court determined that the memos violate the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) because they are contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious. The court did not address the plaintiffs’ argument that the policies were issued without notice and comment.

How the policy reversal affects foreign nationals

In previous court cases challenging USCIS policies related to the expanded travel ban, the courts issued decisions that only affected the plaintiffs involved. This ruling differs because the judge vacated the four USCIS policies, which lifted the holds for anyone affected. 

For those whose cases have already been paused or reopened, Manifest immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar says the next best step is to watch for any update from USCIS. While the agency has confirmed that the policies are vacated, it also stated in a June 12 press release that it disagrees with the ruling but “will follow its terms pending possible further judicial review.”

This is a developing story. We will continue to provide updates.