Court Enjoins USCIS Hold Policies, Certifies Class in Red Eagle Law v. Edlow

On Aug. 24, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California enjoined USCIS Policy Memoranda PM-602-0192 and PM-602-0194, which had placed adjudication holds on certain applications. The court also certified a class of affected applicants and ordered USCIS to resume normal processing of their cases.

Key points

• The order was issued in Red Eagle Law, L.C., et al. v. Joseph B. Edlow, 26-cv-04850-CRB, in the Northern District of California.
• The court enjoined PM 602-0192 and PM 602-0194 and ordered USCIS to adjudicate affected applications in the normal course.
• The certified class covers citizens or natives of the 39 countries listed in Presidential Proclamations 10949 or 10998, or the Palestinian Authority.
• Class members must have a pending I-589 asylum application or other pending USCIS benefit application that was subject to the adjudication hold and not yet finally decided as of class certification.
• PM-602-0192 (Dec. 2, 2025) and PM-602-0194 (Jan. 1, 2026) were based on Presidential Proclamations 10949 (June 4, 2025) and 10998 (Dec. 16, 2025) regarding national security screening and vetting.
• USCIS disagrees with the ruling but will follow it pending further judicial review and plans to issue updated instructions.

Who is affected

Citizens or natives of the 39 countries named in Presidential Proclamations 10949 or 10998, or the Palestinian Authority, who have a pending I-589 or other USCIS benefit application that was placed on hold under PM-602-0192 or PM-602-0194.

What to do