On June 5, 2026, a federal judge issued a major ruling that could affect thousands of immigrants whose cases were delayed under USCIS adjudication hold policies. In Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. USCIS, Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island vacated four USCIS policies that had placed an indefinite hold on immigration benefit processing for nationals of 39 countries. If you or someone you know has been waiting on a green card, work permit, naturalization, or asylum decision, this ruling matters — and you need to understand what it does and does not cover.
How the 39-Country Pause Started
In late 2025, following a Presidential Proclamation that designated 39 countries as high risk under the U.S. travel ban, USCIS issued internal directives placing holds on immigration benefit applications filed by nationals of those countries. The directive, formalized in a January 1, 2026 memo (PM-602-0194), paused final adjudications of green card applications filed inside the United States, employment authorization documents and travel documents, naturalization and citizenship cases, and asylum applications filed with USCIS. Applicants who had filed their cases, paid their fees, completed biometrics, and in many cases already attended interviews were simply left waiting — with no decision and no timeline. Nationality alone became the reason to freeze someone’s case.
What the Court Ruled on June 5
Judge McConnell found that USCIS had no legal authority to impose these holds and that the policies violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). He ruled that federal immigration statutes require the government to adjudicate applications — not freeze them indefinitely. Nationality alone cannot serve as the sole basis for stopping someone’s case.
The court’s order vacated four specific policies:
- The benefit hold — pausing green cards, work permits, travel documents, and naturalization for nationals of the 39 countries
- The global asylum hold — freezing asylum decisions for applicants regardless of country of origin
- The comprehensive re-review policy — reopening previously approved cases from 2021 onward
- The country-specific negative factor policy — using nationality alone as a significant negative factor in adjudications
The 39-Country Pause vs. the 75-Country Suspension: Two Different Issues
This is an important distinction. The June 5 ruling applies only to the 39-country adjudication pause — meaning cases filed inside the United States where processing was frozen. It does not affect the separate 75-country immigrant visa suspension, which applies to people applying for green cards at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. That suspension remains in effect and was not addressed by this ruling. If you are on the 75-country list and your case is abroad, your situation has not changed as a result of this decision. If you are on both lists, you need to speak with the attorneys at NPZ Law Group about exactly where your case stands.
What This Means for You Right Now
The court vacated the policies, which means USCIS is required to resume processing. But this ruling is not a permanent injunction, and the government may seek appellate review or request a stay of the ruling. If a stay is granted, processing could freeze again. That makes timing critical.
If you have a case that was frozen under the 39-country pause, here is what you should do now:
- Check your online USCIS case status and monitor it regularly — decisions and requests for evidence can come without notice
- Contact the immigration attorneys at NPZ Law Group immediately so your file can be followed up on proactively
- If your work permit is expiring or has lapsed, act on a renewal now while the window is open
- Employers with foreign national employees from affected countries should audit I-9 records and coordinate with NPZ counsel on work authorization expiration dates
- If you had a naturalization interview scheduled or were waiting for an oath ceremony, those should now resume — follow up with us to confirm
While the court’s ruling provides an important opportunity for affected applicants to move forward, future litigation could impact how quickly USCIS resumes processing. Individuals with pending green card, work permit, naturalization, or asylum cases should monitor developments closely and reach out to NPZ Law Group regarding their specific circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does this ruling apply to my case if I am inside the United States from one of the 39 countries?
A: If your case was paused solely because of your nationality under the 39-country hold, yes — USCIS is now required to resume adjudication. However, you should confirm the status of your specific case with the attorneys at NPZ Law Group.
Q: What if my country is on the 75-country immigrant visa suspension list?
A: The June 5 ruling does not affect the 75-country visa suspension, which applies to immigrant visa processing at U.S. consulates and embassies abroad. That suspension remains in place unless addressed by a separate court order or government action. Contact NPZ Law Group to discuss your options.
Q: Could the government appeal and freeze processing again?
A: Yes. The court did not issue a permanent injunction, and the government may seek appellate review or request a stay. If that happens, the holds could be reinstated. Acting promptly while processing is open is strongly advisable. NPZ Law Group can help you take action now.
Q: My naturalization ceremony was canceled last year. Will it be rescheduled?
A: Naturalization ceremonies that were canceled as a result of the pause should resume. USCIS has not yet issued formal guidance on rescheduling, so check your case status online and reach out to NPZ Law Group to follow up.
Q: Which immigration benefits were affected by the 39-country adjudication pause?
A: The pause affected adjustment of status applications, employment authorization documents, advance parole travel documents, naturalization applications, and certain asylum-related adjudications filed with USCIS.
Q: How do I know if my case was affected by the 39-country pause?
A: If you are from one of the 39 designated countries and had a pending green card application, work permit, naturalization, or asylum case that went without movement since late 2025, it is very likely your case was caught in the hold.
The attorneys at NPZ Law Group can review your USCIS receipt notice and case history to confirm. If you or your family members have any questions about how immigration and nationality laws in the United States may affect you, or if you want to access additional information about immigration and nationality laws in the United States or Canada, please do not hesitate to contact the immigration and nationality lawyers at NPZ Law Group. You can reach us by emailing info@visaserve.com or by calling us at 201-670-0006 extension 104.