Immigration attorney LaToya McBean Pompy has announced the filing of a major federal lawsuit challenging what she describes as an “awful” adjudication pause by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, affecting applicants from dozens of countries.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Boston, includes 99 plaintiffs and targets a policy that allegedly halted the processing of immigration applications, leaving individuals and families in prolonged legal uncertainty.
“We are asking the court very specifically to lift this… adjudication pause that is on the applications of our plaintiffs,” McBean Pompy said in a video update shared on social media.
The legal action is being led by McBean Pompy’s firm through its initiative, Litigating Immigration for Freedom Today (LIFT), which focuses on advocacy and litigation on behalf of immigrants.
According to the attorney, the case includes “hundreds of pages” of filings and declarations detailing the impact of the policy on affected individuals. Plaintiffs reportedly include professionals such as doctors and researchers, as well as U.S. citizens petitioning for spouses whose applications have stalled mid-process.
“Some of our plaintiffs are ill. Many have lost their jobs, facing very big problems in their life as a result of this one policy,” she said.
The lawsuit alleges that the adjudication pause has caused significant harm, including employment disruptions, family separations, and financial hardship. It also raises questions about due process and administrative fairness in immigration proceedings.
McBean Pompy noted that her legal team has begun outreach to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and expects additional motions to be filed as the case progresses. She also explained that the unpredictable nature of litigation, while assuring plaintiffs that updates are being provided through a dedicated tracking system.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has not publicly responded to the lawsuit at the time of publication.
The case could have broader implications for U.S. immigration policy, particularly if the court is asked to determine whether such pauses in adjudication violate statutory or constitutional protections.
As the litigation unfolds, the outcome may affect not only the 99 named plaintiffs but also other applicants who may be impacted by similar processing delays.
