Court Order Vacates Presidential Proclamation-Based Policies
Current rules
Policy Memoranda PM 602-0192, PM 602-0194, and Policy Alert PA 2025-26 are vacated and should be treated as if they are not in effect.
Overview
On 5 June 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued an order vacating USCIS Policy Memoranda PM 602-0192, PM 602-0194, and Policy Alert PA 2025-26. This judgment, finalised on 11 June 2026, means these policies, which stemmed from Presidential Proclamations 10949 and 10998 concerning national security threats, are now deemed ineffective agency-wide. USCIS will comply with the order but may pursue further judicial review.
Who is affected by the latest change
- Applicants covered by the vacated Presidential Proclamation policies
- Certain adjustment-of-status applicants
- Certain employment-authorisation applicants
- Immigration attorneys and representatives handling affected cases
What changed in the latest version
Before
Policy Memoranda PM 602-0192, PM 602-0194, and Policy Alert PA 2025-26 were in effect. They were based on Presidential Proclamations 10949 and 10998. They aimed to limit entry for foreign nationals.
After
Policy Memoranda PM 602-0192, PM 602-0194, and Policy Alert PA 2025-26 have been removed. You must treat them as if they are not in effect.
This court order is important. It immediately removes three specific United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy rules from effect. These are PM 602-0192, PM 602-0194, and PA 2025-26. These policies originally came from presidential proclamations. Those proclamations limited foreign national entry due to national security concerns. The policies are now cancelled for all of USCIS. Removing these policies helps people who were affected by these limits. Non-governmental organisations and trade unions, who were the plaintiffs, represented these people. USCIS will give more instructions. This means the situation might still change with possible court cases.
Explained simply
Imagine the government had some special rules (called 'policies') about who could come into the country, especially if they thought someone might be a security risk. A court has now told the government that these specific rules can't be used anymore. So, those rules are now 'on hold' or cancelled, and everyone should act as if they never existed. The government isn't happy about it but has to follow the court's decision for now, and they might try to fight it later.
Frequently asked
Version history
- v4Effective 11 Jun 2026EffectiveCritical impactCourt Order Vacates Presidential Proclamation-Based Policies
From 11 June 2026, the US District Court for the District of Rhode Island has removed Policy Memoranda PM 602-0192, PM 602-0194, and Policy Alert PA 2025-26. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had issued these based on Presidential Proclamations 10949 and 10998. The court’s decision means these policies must now be treated as if they are not in effect across USCIS. These policies aimed to limit entry for foreign nationals. The decision was made in the case 'Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, et al. v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, et al.'. USCIS does not agree with the order but will follow its rules.
Timeline
Announced
12 Jun 2026
On 5 June 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued an order vacating USCIS Policy Memoranda PM 602-0192, PM 602-0194, and Policy Alert PA 2025-26. This judgment, finalised on 11 June 2026, means these policies, which stemmed from Presidential Proclamations 10949 and 10998 concerning national security threats, are now deemed ineffective agency-wide. USCIS will comply
Takes effect
11 Jun 2026
Policy Memoranda PM 602-0192, PM 602-0194, and Policy Alert PA 2025-26 are vacated and should be treated as if they are not in effect.
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