Saghafi v. Edlow
Motion PendingCurrent stage: Motion Pending
Plaintiffs have sued to block USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0194 and immediately sought a preliminary injunction and expedited discovery. The U.S. Attorney (defendant) has been served and has requested and received extensions to respond; the government has now filed oppositions to both the emergency discovery requests and the preliminary injunction motion, so the court must decide those pending motions.
Timeline
February 10, 2026
Key EventDefendant Edlow filed the formal opposition to the plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction. The government has thereby filed its substantive response opposing emergency relief.
February 10, 2026
Key EventDefendant Joseph B. Edlow filed an opposition to plaintiffs' ex parte discovery motions, arguing against the requested expedited discovery. The filing opposes plaintiffs' effort to obtain immediate discovery from the government.
February 10, 2026
Key EventDefendant Edlow moved for permission to file a response brief that exceeds the court's usual page limits by six pages. This is a request to submit an oversized filing in opposition to plaintiffs' motions.
January 28, 2026
Key EventDefendant Joseph B. Edlow filed a subsequent motion for an extension of time to file his response. This is another request to modify the response deadline.
January 28, 2026
Key EventThe court granted the defendant's second motion for an extension of time in an order signed January 28, 2026. The defendant's response deadline was further extended.
January 20, 2026
Key EventPlaintiffs filed an opposition to defendant's motion for an extension of time, attaching an email from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Plaintiffs appear to be contesting or seeking limits on the requested extension.
January 20, 2026
Key EventThe court granted the defendant's initial motion for an extension of time to respond, in an order signed January 20, 2026. The court thereby adjusted the briefing timeline.
January 19, 2026
Key EventThe summonses were returned executed showing that Joseph B. Edlow was served on January 14, 2026, and his answer is due March 16, 2026. This confirms the defendants have been formally served.
January 19, 2026
Key EventDefendant Joseph Edlow filed a motion asking the court for additional time to file his response to the plaintiffs' preliminary-injunction motion. This is a request to extend the briefing schedule.
January 12, 2026
Key EventA group of plaintiffs filed a motion for a preliminary injunction asking the court to block enforcement of the policy while the case proceeds, with supporting memorandum, declarations, and a proposed order. This seeks emergency relief to stop the policy immediately.
January 12, 2026
Key EventPlaintiffs filed an ex parte motion seeking expedited discovery from defendants, citing precedent and attaching supporting materials and a proposed order. They ask the court to allow discovery before the usual scheduling because of the urgent nature of their injunction request.
January 12, 2026
Key EventA (slightly different) group of plaintiffs filed a separate ex parte motion for expedited discovery with similar supporting documents and a proposed order. This repeats the request for urgent discovery on behalf of additional plaintiffs.
January 12, 2026
Key EventThe court issued summonses giving the defendants 60 days to respond, directing service on the named U.S. Attorney and the U.S. Attorney General. This is the formal step to notify defendants of the lawsuit.
January 11, 2026
Key EventPlaintiffs filed a multi-plaintiff complaint and petition asking the court to declare USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0194 unlawful and to issue injunctions and a writ of mandamus; exhibits include the challenged memoranda and related USCIS materials. This starts the litigation challenging the USCIS policy.