Current stage: Preliminary Injunction
The plaintiff filed a complaint in early March 2026 and sought to proceed under a pseudonym and to file materials under seal; counsel entered appearances and summonses were issued and returned executed to multiple defendants. The plaintiff moved for a temporary restraining order, the government opposed, the plaintiff replied, the court held a telephonic conference and scheduled a hearing, and on March 26, 2026 the court granted a TRO enjoining application of the adjudication-hold in PM-602-0192 and PM-602-0194 to the plaintiff's pending I-485, I-765, I-131, and I-485 Supplement J and ordered those forms to be adjudicated and the plaintiff notified; the court found the plaintiff likely to succeed on an APA claim but declined to set a short adjudication deadline or require a bond.
March 26, 2026
Key EventThe court issued an order (dated March 26, 2026) granting the plaintiff's motion for a temporary restraining order that enjoins defendants from applying the adjudication hold in USCIS Policy Memoranda PM-602-0192 and PM-602-0194 to the plaintiff's pending Forms I-485, I-765, I-131, and I-485 Supplement J, and directs defendants to adjudicate those pending forms and notify the plaintiff of the decision and reasons if denied; the court declined to require a bond. The court stated it found the plaintiff likely to succeed on an APA claim, described the memoranda as final agency actions, called the adjudicative hold arbitrary and capricious as applied to the plaintiff, declined to impose a 48-hour adjudication deadline, and referenced an employer-imposed April 1, 2026 date but set no preliminary-injunction schedule in the order.
March 19, 2026
Key EventThe plaintiff filed a reply in support of his motion for a temporary restraining order responding to the government's opposition memorandum. The filing is labeled as the plaintiff's reply in support of the TRO motion.
March 18, 2026
Key EventDefendants (Department of Homeland Security and related parties) filed a memorandum in opposition to the plaintiff's motion for a temporary restraining order. The filing is titled as the government's memorandum in opposition to the TRO motion.
March 17, 2026
Key EventThe court held a telephone conference on March 17, 2026, and the docket entry states Motion 4, Motion to seal 5, and Motion for leave to file 5, and Motion to seal 6 were granted; the entry set a briefing schedule for the TRO (government response due 3/18/2026, plaintiff reply due 3/19/2026) and scheduled an in-court hearing for March 26, 2026 at 1:30 PM for a ruling on the emergency TRO motion. The entry also notes an emailed notice was sent regarding these matters.
March 10, 2026
Key EventThe plaintiff filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order, including an attachment identified as Exhibit 19 (redacted). The filing is the TRO motion itself.
March 3, 2026
Key EventThe plaintiff filed a complaint on March 3, 2026, with a filing fee paid and numerous exhibits attached (including immigration and employment-related documents). The complaint initiates the lawsuit and includes multiple supporting exhibits.