Washington, DC – The National Iranian American Council celebrates the ruling from Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. in Dorcas et al v. USCIS that strikes down the Trump administration’s recent pause on adjudicating immigration benefits for nationals of Iran and 38 other countries, including adjustments of status, as a triumph of justice. While legal challenges are almost certain to continue, we call on USCIS and the Trump administration to abide by this ruling and resume processing benefits for vulnerable individuals who have sought to follow lawful immigration procedures and deserve the right to continue on a pathway to the American dream, rather than be arbitrarily denied based on their national origin.
NIAC President Jamal Abdi stated, “This ruling is welcome relief to so many Iranians and other immigrants who have wondered whether the administration was going to succeed in tearing down their legal status in the United States based on arbitrary, discriminatory restrictions. This ruling sets a powerful precedent that the administration cannot ignore the law as laid down by Congress, and cannot arbitrarily bar immigration benefits on the basis of national origin by fiat.”
NIAC has received inquiries from many Iranians and others impacted by the USCIS pause and has sought to connect them with legal resources and provide answers on their status. The ruling is a major win, but undoubtedly questions will remain and it is unclear how quickly USCIS will move to resume processing of immigration benefits.
“This administration is not just barring people from entry, they have turned their sights on individuals who lawfully secured visas and sought to drive them out of the country, while locking the door behind them,” said Abdi. “Fortunately, this is still a nation of laws, and those who uphold America’s values have recourse to challenge and push back on such discriminatory, arbitrary policies.”
NIAC applauds the plaintiffs in the case and all who have supported legal challenges to these discriminatory policies.
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