Green Card Political Screening 2026: Federal Court Orders USCIS to Resume Processing for 83 Immigrants

On April 24, 2026, U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III in Maryland issued a memorandum opinion ordering USCIS to immediately resume Green Card processing for 83 foreign nationals whose adjustment of status applications had been suspended in connection with the latest travel ban. The court found that USCIS does not have the legal authority to wholesale stop adjudicating these applications. The ruling is a significant check on executive branch immigration enforcement, drawing a legal boundary between the administration's travel ban authority and USCIS's statutory obligation to process pending immigration benefits applications. The judge's opinion signals that halting adjudications entirely — rather than applying case-by-case scrutiny — may overstep the agency's permissible scope. For EB-3 and other employment-based applicants caught in travel ban limbo, the decision offers a potential pathway to having stalled cases reviewed. Applicants from affected countries who have pending I-485 adjustment of status petitions should consult with immigration counsel to determine whether they fall within the class covered by this order. This ruling adds to a growing body of federal court decisions pushing back on broad immigration enforcement actions in 2026. Advocates and legal observers will be watching whether USCIS complies promptly and whether the government appeals the decision. Further updates are expected as the case develops.