A recent federal court decision represents major relief for thousands of immigrants whose cases had been frozen due to their country of origin.
On June 5, 2026, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) cannot suspend or delay immigration cases solely based on the applicant’s nationality.
What was happening?
USCIS implemented adjudication pauses that prevented final decisions in many cases.
The affected procedures included:
- Asylum applications
- Work permits (EAD)
- Adjustment of status
- Naturalization
- Other immigration benefits
Many applicants faced indefinite delays.
What did the court decide?
The court concluded that USCIS lacked legal authority, acted arbitrarily, and based its decisions on nationality. The policy was overturned.
What does this mean?
Cases could resume and move forward again. However, it does not guarantee approvals; each case will be evaluated individually.
What's next?
The government could appeal, but for now, it is a step toward a fairer system.