USCIS news
The gist
Labor unions, faculty groups and immigrant advocates sued USCIS over two 2026 green card policies.
The case tests whether applicants can be denied without first being asked for evidence.
How it unfolded
- May 21, 2026USCIS policy describes adjustment of status as an "extraordinary" form of discretionary relief and directs officers to consider whether an applicant chose to seek a green card from within the United States rather than through consular processing abroad.
- Aug 2026USCIS policy gives officers greater authority to deny some applications without first asking applicants for additional evidence or notifying them of an intended denial; it applies to new applications and those already pending when it took effect.
- Oct 5, 2026Labor unions, university faculty groups and immigrant advocates filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts challenging the May and August USCIS policies.