Legal Update — June 2026 (USCIS holds vacated; adjudications resuming):

• In Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. USCIS, No. 26-cv-00132 (D.R.I.), Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. granted partial summary judgment and, on June 5, 2026, vacated and set aside four USCIS policies as unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act: the Benefits Hold, the Global Asylum Hold, the Comprehensive Re-Review, and the Country-Specific Factors policies (PM-602-0192, PM-602-0194, and PA-2025-26). The court entered final judgment on June 11, 2026.
• The court found USCIS exceeded its statutory and regulatory authority, failed to give reasoned explanations, disregarded applicants’ reliance interests, and relied on “pretextual” national-security concerns. A permanent injunction was denied as unnecessary; the constitutional claims were not reached.
• USCIS is complying: in a June 12, 2026 alert, USCIS stated that it strongly disagrees with the order but will follow its terms pending possible further judicial review. With entry of final judgment, the vacatur applies agency-wide and the three policies “should be treated as if they are not in effect,” so domestic adjudication of affected benefit and asylum applications resumes. USCIS said it will issue updated instructions pending further litigation developments.
• What this does not change: the entry suspensions under Presidential Proclamations 10949 and 10998 were not before the court and remain in effect, and the Department of State immigrant-visa pause is unaffected — so countries remain shown in red.
• Status: this is a federal district-court judgment that USCIS is now following agency-wide, but further judicial review remains possible and a later stay or reversal could change it. The situation is fluid; consult a qualified immigration attorney before relying on it.

Category Definitions:

• Entry Ban (Dark Red): 40 jurisdictions designated under PP 10949 (June 4, 2025, 19 countries) and PP 10998 (Dec 16, 2025, 21 additional), subject to entry suspension. The related USCIS domestic adjudication hold (PM-602-0194) and retroactive re-review of previously approved benefits (PM-602-0192 / PM-602-0194) were vacated June 11, 2026, and are no longer in effect. Also subject to the IV pause. Palestine: Also affected by consular operations disruption (March 2026).
• IV Pause Only (Grey): Subject to immigrant visa processing pause effective Jan 21, 2026 (212(a)(4) presumption) but NOT subject to entry ban or domestic USCIS hold. NIVs still available.
• Consular Operations Disrupted (Yellow): U.S. embassies/consulates in these countries have consular services — including visa interviews, immigrant visa processing, and routine consular services — subject to cancellations, suspensions, and generally limited availability due to the conflict with Iran. Conditions remain uncertain and may change without notice. Lebanon, Kuwait, and Iraq are the most significantly disrupted (Lebanon and Kuwait are limited to emergency services only). Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, and Lebanon are also subject to the IV pause (shown as olive on the map). Palestine is also subject to the entry ban and domestic hold (shown as dark red on the map with a note).
• Public Health Entry Suspension — Ebola (Purple): CDC Amended Order under §§ 362 & 365 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 265, 268; 42 CFR 71.40), effective May 22, 2026. Suspends entry of covered aliens — including lawful permanent residents — present in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan during the prior 21 days, in response to the Bundibugyo virus (Ebola) outbreak. Time-limited to 30 days; exceptions for U.S. citizens and nationals and certain DHS-approved cases. Shown as purple on the map, overriding the underlying IV pause (DR Congo, Uganda) or entry ban (South Sudan).
• Unaffected (White): No entry ban, IV pause, consular disruption, or public health entry suspension.

Partial Suspension Notes:

• Laos: Upgraded from partial suspension (PP 10949) to full suspension (PP 10998).
• Sierra Leone: Upgraded from partial suspension (PP 10949) to full suspension (PP 10998).
• Turkmenistan: NIV suspension lifted under PP 10998; IV suspension continues.
• Burundi, Cuba, Togo, Venezuela: Partial suspension (unchanged between proclamations).

Iran Conflict Impact (March 2026):

• Iran Conflict Related Disruptions (11): Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE — consular services subject to cancellations, suspensions, and limited availability until further notice. Lebanon, Kuwait, and Iraq are the most significantly disrupted.Other Consular Disruptions (1): Ukraine — limited visa services unrelated to the Iran conflict.
• Overlap with existing restrictions: Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, and Lebanon (IV pause + ops disrupted). Palestine (entry ban + hold + ops disrupted). Saudi Arabia (previously embassy closed, now consular ops disrupted).

Key Points:

• USCIS Domestic Hold (PM-602-0194): Applies to nationals by birth OR citizenship (including CBI), regardless of entry date. Affects I-485, I-130, I-140, I-765, N-400, and all other USCIS benefit applications.
• Retroactive Re-Review: PM-602-0192 (Dec 2, 2025) ordered re-review of approved benefits for the original 19 countries (PP 10949). PM-602-0194 (Jan 1, 2026) extended hold and re-review to all 40 jurisdictions under PP 10998.
• IV Pause: Interviews proceed but cases refused under 221(g) with 212(a)(4) presumption. NIVs unaffected. Dual nationals may use non-listed passport.
• Mauritania: On entry ban (PP 10998) but NOT on IV pause list.
• Exceptions may apply for: LPRs, diplomats (A/G visas), certain EAD categories, national interest.