The Ruling
Chief Judge John McConnell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island struck down all four USCIS policies that froze immigration benefit processing for nationals of 39 countries. The 135-page summary judgment vacated the policies nationwide, not just for the plaintiffs.
The case, Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. USCIS, was filed on March 5, 2026 by a coalition of immigration service nonprofits and labor unions. 64 lawsuits have been filed challenging the pause. This ruling is the most sweeping.
What Was Frozen
USCIS issued two memoranda in December 2025 and January 2026 that created four policies:
| Policy | What it did |
|---|---|
| Global asylum hold | Paused all Form I-589 asylum applications regardless of nationality |
| Benefits hold | Froze green cards, work permits, and citizenship applications for nationals of 39 countries |
| Comprehensive re-review | Re-reviewed already-approved cases for people from “high-risk” countries who entered after January 20, 2021 |
| Country-specific factors | Treated an applicant’s country of birth as a “significant negative factor” in discretionary benefits |
The freeze affected nationals from 39 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Central America, and the Caribbean. 115,454 green card applications by asylees and refugees were pending as of March 2026.
Why the Court Said It Was Unlawful
The judge found the policies illegal on two independent grounds.
USCIS has no authority to categorically stop processing benefits that Congress directed it to decide. Multiple immigration statutes say applications “shall be decided.” The agency cannot override that with a memo.
The policies were also arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. The agency pointed to the conduct of two individuals to justify freezing applications from 39 countries. It offered no reasoned explanation for that extrapolation. The court found the national security rationale was pretextual, citing openly anti-immigrant statements from the president and former DHS secretary made during the policy rollout.
“An agency cannot dodge judicial review forever by calling an indefinite freeze interim.”
Chief Judge John McConnell, ruling in Dorcas International v. USCIS, June 5, 2026
The Human Cost
The USCIS Pause Tracker collected more than 122 impact stories from people caught in the freeze.
A medical device professional lost a job and a new offer. A parent reported a 13-year-old American citizen attempted suicide over the family’s immigration limbo. People with chronic conditions reported losing health insurance because their work permits expired during the freeze. Others depleted savings and turned to credit cards.
The freeze lasted approximately six months with no public guidance and no end date.
What Happens Next
The vacatur voids the policies entirely. No separate injunction is needed. The administration is expected to appeal to the First Circuit Court of Appeals.
If USCIS tries to revive the policies under a different name, the declaratory judgment in this case can be used to seek further relief. The policies remain blocked unless a court grants a stay pending appeal.
What You Can Do
- Write your senators through Resist Bot and demand that USCIS resume processing all frozen applications immediately
- Contact the House Judiciary Committee and ask for oversight hearings on the six-month freeze and its impact on lawful residents
- Share resources from the USCIS Pause Tracker with affected immigrants in your community — it includes templates, talking points, and step-by-step guidance
- Follow the appeal through Courthouse News and the National Immigration Law Center for updates
Primary Sources
- Court Ruling: Dorcas International v. USCIS (135 pages, PDF)
- American Immigration Council: FOIA Data on Pending Green Cards
- Yale OISS: Expanded Processing Holds and Re-Review
- Asian Law Caucus: Understanding the USCIS Pause
- USCIS Pause Tracker: Impact Stories and Action Resources
- Clearinghouse: Case Details