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 complete
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 (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.
Summary Authors
Jonah Miller (7/6/2026)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73214674/parties/doe-v-us-citizenship-immigration-services/
Nichols, Carl John (District of Columbia)
Garlock, Stephanie (District of Columbia)
Zieve, Allison Marcy (District of Columbia)
Oni, Bisola (District of Columbia)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73214674/doe-v-us-citizenship-immigration-services/
Last updated July 22, 2026, 3:18 a.m.
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 20, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
A non-citizen survivor of domestic violence granted immigration relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the sole caregiver for her U.S.-citizen minor child, who holds work authorization through EADs (Employment Authorization Documents)
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
Department of Homeland Security
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01336
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Immigration/Border:
Work authorization - procedures
Case Summary of Doe v. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48119/ (last updated 7/6/2026).