Federal Court Vacates USCIS Hold Policies for Applicants from Banned Countries: USCIS Says it Will Resume Adjudications While Litigation Continues
Updated: June 2026
By Ral Obioha, Esq. LLM
Board Certified Specialist – Immigration & Nationality Law
On June 5, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a significant decision in Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, et al. v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, et al., vacating several USCIS policies that had paused or delayed immigration benefit adjudications for certain applicants, including nationals of countries affected by recent presidential travel ban and heightened vetting proclamations.
The Court entered final judgment on June 11, 2026.
Following that final judgment, USCIS publicly acknowledged the court’s order. Although USCIS stated that it strongly disagrees with the decision and may seek further judicial review, the agency also confirmed that it will comply with the order while the litigation continues.
For now, USCIS must treat the vacated policies as though they are not in effect and begin moving forward with affected adjudications.
What Policies Did the Court Vacate?
The court vacated USCIS policy memoranda and policy alerts PM-602-0192, PM-602-0194, and PA-2025-26.
These policies were issued in connection with Presidential Proclamation 10949, issued on June 4, 2025, and Presidential Proclamation 10998, issued on December 16, 2025. The proclamations were framed around national security, public safety, screening, and vetting concerns.
In practice, however, these USCIS policies resulted in certain immigration benefit requests being paused, delayed, or subjected to additional country-specific scrutiny.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit included non-governmental organizations and labor unions representing millions of individuals who had filed immigration applications.
What Does “Vacated” Mean?
When a court vacates an agency policy, the policy is set aside.
In this case, USCIS acknowledged that because final judgment has been entered, the court’s order became effective immediately and applies agency-wide.
USCIS further stated that PM-602-0192, PM-602-0194, and PA-2025-26 should be treated as though they are not in effect.
This distinction is important because the vacatur is not limited to the named plaintiffs in the lawsuit. It applies across USCIS operations unless a future court order changes the situation.
USCIS Disagrees, But Says It Will Comply for Now
USCIS has made clear that it disagrees with the court’s decision and may continue to litigate the matter, appeal the ruling, or seek further judicial review.
However, the agency has also stated that it will comply with the order while litigation remains pending.
As a result, applicants whose cases were delayed because of these hold policies may begin seeing movement in their cases, including:
- Case status updates;
- Interview notices;
- Requests for Evidence (RFEs);
- Approval or denial decisions;
- Other adjudicative actions by USCIS.
USCIS has also stated that it may issue additional guidance and instructions as the litigation develops.
What This Decision Means for Applicants
This ruling is an important development for applicants whose USCIS cases may have been stalled because they are from countries affected by the travel ban or related heightened vetting policies.
Potentially affected filings may include:
- Adjustment of Status applications;
- Employment Authorization Document (EAD) applications;
- Naturalization applications;
- Family-based immigration benefit requests;
- Employment-based immigration benefit requests;
- Affirmative asylum-related adjudications handled by USCIS.
For many applicants, the most immediate impact is that USCIS can no longer rely on the vacated policies to keep cases frozen.
This does not mean every case will be approved. It means USCIS must move forward and adjudicate the case under existing immigration laws and procedures.
What This Decision Does Not Mean
Although the ruling is significant, it is important not to overstate its impact.
The decision does not:
- Automatically approve pending immigration applications;
- Eliminate normal eligibility requirements;
- Prevent USCIS from conducting background checks or security screenings;
- Prevent fraud investigations or admissibility reviews;
- Limit lawful discretionary decisions by USCIS;
- Necessarily remove separate travel ban restrictions or consular processing limitations administered by the Department of State.
This distinction is especially important for applicants outside the United States who are waiting for visa issuance at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
A USCIS adjudication hold and a consular visa refusal or travel-ban-related restriction may be related, but they are not always the same legal issue.
Why This Matters
Immigration delays are not merely administrative inconveniences.
They can affect:
- Employment authorization;
- Family unity;
- Lawful immigration status;
- International travel;
- Educational opportunities;
- Business planning;
- Long-term personal and financial stability.
For applicants whose cases were delayed under broad nationality-based policies, the court’s decision serves as an important reminder that USCIS may screen, vet, investigate, request evidence, and adjudicate cases under the law, but it cannot indefinitely refuse to adjudicate entire categories of applications based on policies that a federal court has found unlawful.
The court’s order requires USCIS to return to adjudication.
What Applicants Should Do Now
If your case has been pending for an unusually long period and you believe it may have been affected by the USCIS pause policies, carefully review your case history.
You should:
- Check your USCIS online account regularly;
- Monitor your mail for notices and correspondence;
- Confirm that USCIS has your current mailing address;
- Watch for updates, interview notices, RFEs, or other communications.
If you receive a Request for Evidence, Notice of Intent to Deny, interview notice, or any other communication from USCIS, take it seriously and respond within the required deadlines.
Movement on a case is generally a positive sign, but it can also indicate that USCIS is actively reviewing the file.
Applicants with prior immigration violations, prior denials, removal proceedings, inadmissibility concerns, criminal history, alleged misrepresentation, discretionary issues, or asylum-related complications should exercise particular caution and seek legal advice when appropriate.
The Bottom Line
The June 5, 2026 decision in Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. USCIS is a significant development for immigrants from affected countries whose USCIS cases were delayed under the now-vacated hold policies.
USCIS has acknowledged that the court’s order is effective immediately, applies agency-wide, and requires PM-602-0192, PM-602-0194, and PA-2025-26 to be treated as though they are not in effect.
Although USCIS disagrees with the ruling and may continue to pursue appellate review, the agency has confirmed that it will comply with the order while further judicial proceedings are pending.
Speak With an Experienced Immigration Attorney About Your Case
If your immigration case has been delayed and you are unsure whether this decision may affect your situation, now is the time to seek case-specific legal guidance.
At Law Office of Ral Obioha, PLLC, we help individuals and families understand complex immigration policy changes and develop practical strategies for moving their immigration matters forward.
📩 Contact our office to schedule a consultation and discuss your options.
Warmly,
Board Certified Attorney in Immigration and Nationality Law
Ral Obioha Law, PLLC
Let’s talk.We offer consultations to help you understand your options and take the next steps.
📧 Email Us: hello@ralobiohalaw.com
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Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult with a qualified immigration attorney regarding your individual circumstances.
