Court order: USCIS must process applications it had put on hold for nationals of 39 countries
A federal court enjoined two USCIS policy memoranda that paused decisions on asylum and other applications. USCIS says it disagrees but will follow the order.
On August 24, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order in Red Eagle Law, L.C., et al. v. Joseph B. Edlow, enjoining USCIS policy memoranda PM 602-0192 and PM 602-0194.
The memoranda placed holds on decisions for citizens or natives of the 39 countries listed in Presidential Proclamations 10949 or 10998, or the Palestinian Authority, who had pending asylum applications or other benefit applications at USCIS.
USCIS stated that it strongly disagrees with the order but will follow its terms pending possible further judicial review. The agency is ordered to adjudicate applications in the normal course and said it will issue updated instructions.
Applicants from the countries named in the two proclamations whose cases at USCIS had stopped moving.
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