Federal Court Strikes Down USCIS Asylum and Benefits Freezes: What You Need to Know

 Posted on June 15, 2026 in Immigration

On June 5, 2026, a federal court in Rhode Island ruled that USCIS had no legal authority to freeze thousands of pending immigration applications and asylum cases. The ruling was final as of June 11, 2026, and it applies nationwide immediately.

If you have been waiting for months without a decision on your green card, asylum application, work permit, or other immigration benefit, this ruling may affect your case. Here is what happened and what it means for you.

What USCIS Froze

Starting in December 2025, USCIS issued policy memos that created two major freezes.

The first freeze was on asylum applications. USCIS ordered a hold on all asylum cases from certain countries, saying it needed time for a "comprehensive review." The policy memo said the hold would stay in place "until lifted by the USCIS Director through a subsequent memorandum." That memorandum never came. Even though USCIS later said on its website that some countries were no longer frozen, the official policy was never rescinded.

The second freeze was broader. USCIS said that for people from designated countries, cases could move forward with some processing steps, but final decisions were forbidden. This meant no one could get an approval or denial on their green card application, work permit, adjustment of status, naturalization request, or many other benefits. Thousands of people were approved for interviews, passed those interviews, and then were told they could not receive a decision.

The government said it was doing this for national security reasons. But it applied the freeze based on what country someone was from, not on any individual assessment of that person.

Why the Court Said This Was Illegal

The court ruled that USCIS violated the Administrative Procedure Act and exceeded its authority by freezing immigration applications and asylum processing. While the President has authority to regulate who enters the United States, USCIS cannot use national security as a pretext to indefinitely freeze domestic benefits based solely on an applicant's country of birth.

The court was clear: the President can make decisions about who can come into the country. But once someone is here and has filed an application with USCIS, the rules change. USCIS cannot simply freeze those cases without a clear legal basis and without following the proper procedures. The government had not done that.

Additionally, the policies violated due process. The memos said these holds would stay in effect "until lifted by the USCIS Director through a subsequent memorandum" - but USCIS never officially lifted them, leaving applicants in permanent legal limbo without knowing when or if they would get a decision.

What This Means for Your Case

If your case is affected by one of the frozen policies, you should now expect USCIS to adjudicate your case, meaning they must make a final decision: approval, denial, or dismissal.

This does not mean your application will be approved. You still have to meet all the legal requirements. But it does mean you will get an answer instead of remaining frozen indefinitely.

If you are still waiting for a decision and believe your case was frozen under these policies, contact your immigration attorney or our office. We can review your case and discuss next steps.

What Happens Next

USCIS stated it strongly disagrees with the Court's order but will follow its terms pending possible further judicial review. This means the government may appeal the ruling.

Appeals take time. In the meantime, USCIS is required to follow the court order and adjudicate frozen cases. But be aware that if the government appeals and wins that appeal, the situation could change. This is one reason it is important to stay in contact with an immigration attorney who can monitor these developments for your specific case.

A Word About Uncertainty

This is a significant ruling, and it is a victory for people who were wrongfully frozen out of the immigration system. But immigration law is complex, and court decisions can be appealed. We are carefully monitoring what USCIS does next and whether the government pursues further legal action.

If you have questions about how this ruling affects your case, we are here to help. Immigration law moves quickly, and staying informed is important.