Explainer · Litigation
What the Dorcas ruling means for Afghan allies.
A federal court struck down four USCIS policies that had frozen green cards, work permits, asylum decisions, and naturalization for Afghans and nationals of 38 other countries. Here is what changed, what did not, and what to do now.
Last updated July 17, 2026
As of July 15, 2026, a federal court denied the government's request to pause its ruling while it appeals. The four USCIS policies remain vacated and cannot be enforced. The case is Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. USCIS (D.R.I. No. 1:26-cv-00132), now on appeal at the First Circuit (No. 26-1703). Read AfghanEvac's statement on the stay denial.
What the court struck down
Four USCIS policies, vacated.
Each of these policies used an applicant's nationality to stall or reopen their case. The court vacated all four.
Benefits Hold
USCIS froze adjudications on green cards, work permits, and naturalization applications based on the applicant's nationality.
Global Asylum Hold
USCIS paused asylum decisions for people from designated countries, including Afghanistan.
Comprehensive Re-Review
USCIS reopened previously approved cases for nationals of covered countries who arrived after January 20, 2021.
Country-Specific Factors
USCIS instructed officers to treat an applicant's nationality as a significant negative factor in discretionary decisions.
Why the court ruled against USCIS
The agency exceeded its authority.
The court found that USCIS violated the Administrative Procedure Act. It implemented these policies without sufficient legal justification and without weighing the reliance interests of people who had already been approved or who had built their lives here in good faith.
Set expectations
What this ruling does not do.
This is a real and important win, but it is narrow. The decision does not:
- End the Afghanistan travel ban
- Restart refugee admissions
- Restore Enduring Welcome operations
- Fix Special Immigrant Visa processing overseas
Those fights continue elsewhere, including in the other cases on our litigation tracker.
If you are an Afghan national in the U.S.
What to do now.
USCIS has resumed
With the policies vacated, USCIS has resumed adjudicating cases that were stalled under the holds.
Check your contact info
Verify that your current address and contact information are up to date with USCIS so you do not miss a notice.
Talk to a lawyer
Consult an immigration attorney about any pending application, especially cases that were reopened or paused.
For vetted legal help and other resources, see our Resources page. This explainer is information, not legal advice.
Go deeper
Read the record and track the case.
Read AfghanEvac's statements, follow the public docket on CourtListener, and see where Dorcas fits among the lawsuits shaping Afghan relocation.
This explainer summarizes a public court decision for informational purposes and is not legal advice. Case details are drawn from the docket on CourtListener, a service of the Free Law Project. For guidance on your own case, consult a qualified immigration attorney.