Case: Doe v. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

1:26-cv-01336 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: April 20, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.) A 39-year-old Mexican citizen and Houston resident, who is a domestic violence survivor with immigration relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and sole caregiver to her eight-year-old U.S. citizen daughter, filed suit against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other federal defendants on April 20, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The plaintiff challenged an Interim Final Rule (I…

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.)

A 39-year-old Mexican citizen and Houston resident, who is a domestic violence survivor with immigration relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and sole caregiver to her eight-year-old U.S. citizen daughter, filed suit against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other federal defendants on April 20, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The plaintiff challenged an Interim Final Rule (IFR) issued by USCIS on October 30, 2025, that eliminated automatic work permit extensions for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) without providing alternative mechanisms to prevent lapses in work authorization. The complaint alleged that this change significantly increased the risk that hundreds of thousands of people would lose work authorization due to USCIS's persistent processing backlogs. Under two counts alleging violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the plaintiff argued that defendants failed to provide required notice and comment procedures and acted arbitrarily and capriciously in issuing the rule. The plaintiff sought injunctive relief staying the IFR's effective date, a declaration that the rule was unlawful, vacatur of the rule, and attorney's fees.

This case is ongoing.

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People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73214674/parties/doe-v-us-citizenship-immigration-services/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Garlock, Stephanie (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Garlock, Stephanie (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:26-cv-01336	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief	April 20, 2026	April 20, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73214674/doe-v-us-citizenship-immigration-services/

Last updated June 7, 2026, 3:10 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12370441) filed by JANE DOE. (Attachments: # 1 Summons (USCIS), # 2 Summons (Edlow), # 3 Summons (DHS), # 4 Summons (Mullin), # 5 Civil Cover Sheet)(Garlock, Stephanie) (Entered: 04/20/2026) 1 Summons (USCIS) View on PACER 2 Summons (Edlow) View on PACER 3 Summons (DHS) View on PACER 4 Summons (Mullin) View on PACER 5 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER	April 20, 2026	April 20, 2026 Clearinghouse
2	SEALED MOTION to Proceed Under Pseudonym filed by JANE DOE (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Garlock, Stephanie) (Entered: 04/20/2026)	April 20, 2026	April 20, 2026
10	SUMMONS (6) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 05/20/2026)	May 20, 2026	May 20, 2026
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	May 20, 2026	May 20, 2026
	Status Report Order	May 20, 2026	May 20, 2026
	Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (zmtm)	May 20, 2026	May 20, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER. In light of Plaintiff's 9 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, it is hereby ORDERED that by 12:00 pm EDT on May 22, 2026, the Parties shall meet, confer, and file a Joint Status Report addressing the following issues: (1) a proposed briefing schedule for the 9 Motion; (2) a statement addressing whether a hearing on the 9 Motion is necessary, and if so, a proposed date and time for such a hearing; and (3) a statement addressing whether the Parties anticipate factual disputes between affiants. The Parties may also address any other issues that they believe will be helpful to the Court. Any disagreements should be noted in the Joint Status Report. Plaintiff shall notify counsel for Defendants of the contents of this Minute Order. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 05/20/2026. (lccjn2)	May 20, 2026	May 20, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER. The Court having considered the 5 and 6 Motions for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice, and it appearing to the Court that the attorneys referenced therein meet the requirements for pro hac vice admission under Local Civil Rule 83.2(c), it is hereby ORDERED that the Motions are GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that the attorneys referenced in the Motions are hereby ADMITTED to practice before the Court pro hac vice. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a) Click for instructions. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 05/22/2026. (lccjn2)	May 22, 2026	May 22, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 13 Joint Status Report, it is ORDERED that the government shall file its opposition to the 9 Motion for Preliminary Injunction on or before June 4, 2026, and Plaintiff shall file her reply on or before June 9, 2026. If the Court determines that a hearing is necessary, it will promptly notify the Parties. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 05/22/2026. (lccjn2)	May 22, 2026	May 22, 2026
16	NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by JANE DOE (Garlock, Stephanie) (Entered: 06/02/2026)	June 2, 2026	June 2, 2026 RECAP