Federal judge strikes down USCIS immigration “hold” policies, orders nationwide halt reversal

A federal court in Rhode Island has vacated several recent U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policies that had paused or restricted the processing of immigration benefit applications, ruling that the measures were unlawful and must no longer be applied nationwide.

The order, issued on June 5, 2026, and finalized on June 11, struck down three USCIS internal policy documents — PM 602-0192, PM 602-0194 and PA 2025-26 — meaning they are no longer in effect across the agency. These documents guided immigration officers on how to review and process applications, including when cases could be paused, slowed, or subjected to additional scrutiny. The court directed USCIS to treat the policies as if they were never implemented, at least while the case continues to move through the courts.

The case, Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, et al. v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, et al., was brought by a coalition of non-governmental organizations and labor unions representing millions of immigration applicants across the United States. The plaintiffs argued that the policies created widespread delays and unlawful barriers in the adjudication of immigration benefits.

Policies linked to national security directives

USCIS issued the vacated guidance in connection with two presidential proclamations issued in 2025 and 2026 that focused on national security, terrorism concerns, and expanded vetting of foreign nationals entering or remaining in the United States.

Those proclamations directed federal agencies to strengthen screening procedures, increase background checks, and address what the government described as gaps in immigration security and fraud detection systems. They also emphasized tighter scrutiny for applicants considered higher-risk based on nationality, travel history, or security-related indicators.

USCIS then translated those directives into internal policy memoranda that instructed officers on how to apply the guidance in day-to-day case processing. In practice, this included slowing or pausing certain immigration applications, requiring additional layers of review for some cases, and applying more restrictive standards when assessing eligibility for discretionary benefits such as asylum, work authorization, and adjustment of status.

The policies were also used to guide when officers could place cases on “hold” for further security review or re-evaluation, particularly in applications flagged under enhanced vetting procedures.

The measures were widely viewed as part of a broader shift toward stricter adjudication standards, especially for applicants from countries subject to heightened security scrutiny or expanded screening requirements under the proclamations.

Court finds policies exceeded agency authority

In its ruling, the court concluded that USCIS violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), finding the policies were “arbitrary and capricious” and were implemented without adequate legal justification.

The judge also found that the agency exceeded its authority by imposing broad, system-wide restrictions through internal guidance rather than going through formal rulemaking procedures, which require public notice and comment.

As a result, the court ordered the policies vacated, meaning they are legally void and cannot be enforced unless reinstated through properly authorized rulemaking or a successful appeal.

Broad nationwide impact

The ruling has immediate nationwide effect, requiring USCIS field offices and adjudicators to resume processing affected immigration applications without applying the struck-down policies.

Because the court issued a vacatur rather than a limited injunction, the decision extends beyond the plaintiffs in the case and applies across the entire immigration system.

The case involved policies that had contributed to delays across multiple categories of immigration benefits, including asylum applications, work authorization requests, adjustment of status cases, and other pending immigration filings. Advocacy groups argued that the policies had contributed to significant backlogs and inconsistent adjudication practices.

For Caribbean applicants and immigrants, including nationals from countries such as Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states, the ruling may reduce delays and extra layers of review that had been applied in some cases under the vacated guidance. Immigration attorneys say these types of policies often have a disproportionate impact on smaller migrant groups because even limited increases in screening or processing time can translate into longer wait times for work permits, green card applications, and asylum claims.USCIS response and possible appeal

USCIS said it “strongly disagrees” with the court’s decision but will comply while litigation continues. The agency confirmed that the ruling is effective immediately and applies agency-wide.

Officials also indicated that updated guidance for officers is being prepared as the case proceeds through the courts, suggesting that the government may pursue an appeal or seek further judicial review.

Policies originated from presidential proclamations

The vacated USCIS directives stemmed from two presidential proclamations:

• Proclamation 10949, issued June 4, 2025, which focused on restricting entry of foreign nationals based on national security and terrorism-related concerns
• Proclamation 10998, issued December 16, 2025, which expanded security-based restrictions and enhanced vetting requirements

USCIS said the policies were intended to address gaps in screening and strengthen national security protections within the immigration system.