Nearly 200 Americans File Lawsuit Against Trump Administration Over Unauthorized Immigration Casework Pause

Nearly 200 individuals have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging its decision to pause immigration casework for passport holders on its travel ban list. The lawsuit, filed by nearly 200 people in Boston federal court, represents hundreds of thousands of Americans currently in immigration limbo.

The suit claims that the suspension of casework by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is not authorized under immigration or administrative law. Affected individuals state that this suspension has prevented them from claiming asylum, obtaining work authorization, renewing student visas, or processing green cards—a process that could otherwise have allowed them to participate in naturalization ceremonies.

The plaintiffs concede that the Trump administration has the authority to prohibit entry into the United States but contest its right to suspend immigration casework for individuals who are already within the country. Jim Hacking, a lead attorney for the case, stated: “The current situation is merely an administration determined to torment legal immigrants.” Hacking further noted, “Individuals who comply with immigration laws are experiencing life disruptions because these agencies refuse to adhere to the law.”

The Trump administration has placed 39 countries on its travel ban list, citing national security concerns. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson characterized the lawsuit as “another baseless effort to undermine the President’s lawful authority over who enters this country.” The spokesperson added that USCIS has suspended adjudications for individuals from high-risk countries as it ensures comprehensive vetting and screening of those individuals.

The spokesperson explained that this pause enables a thorough review of all pending benefit applications for individuals from the designated high-risk countries, emphasizing that “the safety of the American people always comes first.”