Federal Judge Strikes Down USCIS Immigration Benefit Holds for Applicants from 39 Countries

A federal judge has ordered USCIS to end its pause on the adjudication of immigration benefit applications that affected applicants from 39 countries, clearing the way for many delayed cases to move forward.

On June 5, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. ruled that the USCIS policy violated federal law and ordered the agency to immediately resume adjudicating affected applications. The court found that applicants were being denied timely decisions based solely on their country of origin rather than any individualized concerns.

What the Decision Changes

The ruling requires USCIS to resume normal processing for affected individuals who are already inside the United States.

Applications that may now move forward include:

• Adjustment of Status applications

• Employment Authorization Documents (EADs)

• Asylum applications

• Naturalization applications

The court also struck down a directive that instructed USCIS officers to treat an applicant's nationality or country of birth as a negative factor when exercising discretion.

Countries Affected by the USCIS Holds

The USCIS processing freeze applied to applicants who are citizens of the following countries:

Africa

Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, The Gambia, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Asia and the Middle East

Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Iran, Laos, Syria, and Yemen.

Caribbean and Latin America

Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica, Haiti, and Venezuela.

Pacific

Tonga.

The restrictions also applied to individuals traveling on documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.

What the Decision Does Not Change

The ruling does not eliminate existing travel bans or visa restrictions affecting individuals outside the United States.

U.S. consulates and embassies abroad remain subject to separate restrictions. As a result, many individuals seeking immigrant or nonimmigrant visas from outside the country may still face barriers to obtaining visas or entering the United States.

This distinction is important. The lawsuit challenged USCIS adjudication policies within the United States, not overseas visa processing by the Department of State.

What Applicants Should Do

Individuals from affected countries with pending USCIS applications should monitor their case status closely and keep copies of any notices related to prior delays.

Applicants should also:

• Ensure USCIS has their current address.

• Respond promptly to Requests for Evidence.

• Attend any scheduled biometrics appointments or interviews.

• Consult an immigration attorney if their case has been pending unusually long due to the prior hold.

Further Litigation Is Likely

Although the decision takes effect immediately, the government may appeal and seek a court order that temporarily reinstates the processing holds while litigation continues.

For now, however, applicants who were caught in what the court described as an indefinite legal limbo may finally see progress on their cases if they are already present in the United States.

If you believe your application was affected by these USCIS processing holds or have questions about your immigration options, contact Tran Flores Law at (512) 894-9984 to schedule a consultation.