Close the Loophole USCIS Used to Freeze 39 Countries Out of Legal Immigration

USCIS froze immigration benefits for nationals of 39 countries by treating travel-ban proclamations as authority over benefit adjudication.

A letter to your members of Congress. Facts checked June 8, 2026.

The Letter

Subject Congress Must Codify That Travel Bans Cannot Freeze Immigration Benefits

A federal court ruled on June 5, 2026 that USCIS unlawfully froze immigration benefits for nationals of 39 countries by treating travel-ban proclamations as authority over benefit adjudication. Travel bans cover entry. They do not cover green cards, work permits, or asylum applications already in the system. 115,454 green card applications were frozen without legal basis. A new policy memo could restart the freeze unless Congress closes the loophole.

Pass legislation clarifying that presidential travel-ban proclamations cannot be used to suspend USCIS benefit adjudications. Require formal APA rulemaking before USCIS freezes benefit processing for any population. Restore USCIS staffing so the 115,000 frozen cases can be processed without years of additional delay.

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Call Your Representative

U.S. Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121

I'm calling about USCIS policies that froze immigration benefits for nationals of 39 countries.
A federal court ruled on June 5, 2026 that all four USCIS freeze policies were unlawful. The court said travel-ban proclamations govern entry, not benefit adjudication. 115,454 green card applications were frozen without legal authority.
The administration can restart a similar freeze with a new policy memo. Congress needs to pass legislation clarifying that travel-ban proclamations cannot be used to suspend USCIS benefit adjudications, and require formal rulemaking before USCIS freezes any benefits.
I'm a constituent and I vote.

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The Facts Behind the Ask

39 countries whose nationals had green cards, work permits, and asylum applications frozen by USCIS internal guidance treating travel-ban authority as covering benefits (source)
115,454 green card applications by asylees and refugees frozen under the USCIS hold policies, per American Immigration Council FOIA request (source)
4 USCIS hold and re-review policies vacated as unlawful by Chief Judge McConnell on June 5, 2026. A court ruling does not prevent new memos. (source)

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