CIS Sues USCIS Over Green Card Application Records
A pro-enforcement think tank is suing the agency that decides who gets a green card — and it wants to see the records USCIS has been keeping. The Center for Immigration Studies says the government ignored its request for documents and is now asking a federal court to step in. For immigrants with pending applications, understanding what agencies do with their data has never felt more urgent.
The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), a think tank that supports lower immigration levels, has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) — the federal agency that processes green card applications, work permits, and other immigration benefits. The lawsuit asks a federal court to force USCIS to release records that CIS requested but says it never received.
What the lawsuit is about
CIS filed what is known as a FOIA request — a Freedom of Information Act request, which is a formal ask for government documents. Under federal law, agencies like USCIS are generally required to respond to these requests. CIS says USCIS did not provide the records it asked for, so CIS went to court to compel the agency to hand them over. The records relate to how USCIS handles green card applications and immigration benefit requests.
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Lawsuits like this one do not directly change immigration rules or affect individual cases. However, they can force agencies to release data that shows how decisions are made — including how long applications take, how often they are approved or denied, and whether policies are being followed. For immigrants waiting on a green card application or a work permit (called an EAD, or Employment Authorization Document), that kind of information can matter.
What to do
- If you have a pending green card application or work permit, check your case status regularly on the USCIS website at uscis.gov using your receipt number.
- If USCIS has not responded to your application within the normal processing time, you may be able to submit a case inquiry or request an expedite — immigration lawyers recommend documenting any financial or medical hardship that supports your request.
- Keep copies of everything you submit to USCIS. If your case is ever questioned, having a paper trail protects you.
- If you are unsure how this lawsuit or any policy change affects your specific situation, consult a licensed immigration attorney before taking action.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
FOIA litigation like this can eventually surface internal USCIS data on approval rates, processing patterns, and policy guidance — information that attorneys use to spot systemic problems and build stronger cases for clients. If you have a long-pending green card application or EAD and have not received any update, you have the right to submit a case inquiry after the posted processing time has passed, and in some situations to file a mandamus lawsuit to compel USCIS to act. Every case is different, so speak with an immigration attorney to understand what options apply to your specific situation.