Iranian American Bar Association’s Statement on the USCIS Adjudication Pause

The adjudication of immigration benefits for many individuals from travel ban countries who are lawfully present in the United States remains paused or significantly delayed pursuant to USCIS policy since late 2025. As a result, thousands of Iranian nationals and individuals from other affected communities continue to face uncertainty about their ability to maintain lawful status, continue working, pursue their education, reunite with family members, and plan for their futures. These policies carry profound human consequences for students, professionals, and families who have built their lives in this country and now face severe personal and financial instability through no fault of their own.

Litigation has started to break down the adjudication pause on a case-by-case basis. These recent federal court rulings have reaffirmed a foundational principle of our legal system: individuals who comply with U.S. immigration laws should not be subjected to broad, indefinite delays in the adjudication of their cases. IABA recognizes and commends the attorneys and legal organizations leading these efforts. Their work reflects an enduring commitment to due process, fairness, and the rule of law, and serves as an important check on unlawful government action.

At the same time, these rulings underscore a broader concern. While litigation may provide limited relief in individual cases, it cannot substitute for a functioning immigration system. The integrity of our immigration framework depends on timely, consistent, and lawful processing for individuals who have followed the rules and relied on the protections and expectations built into our laws. The stated purpose of the adjudication pause was to identify and address national security or public safety risks through case by case review. An indefinite pause does not further that objective and delays adjudications without providing the individualized assessments the policy was intended to achieve.

IABA will continue to advocate for the restoration of immigration benefit adjudications and for policies that uphold legal process, protect community stability, and ensure fair and lawful treatment for all.

This statement reflects the position of IABA as an organization and does not represent the personal views of any individual member or chapter, unless specifically endorsed.

Iranian American Bar Association’s Response to the USCIS Adjudication Pause

As the UCSIC adjudication pause has continued, IABA has responded through the following five areas: educational outreach, formal advocacy, community support and education, regulatory engagement, and public awareness.

Educational Outreach
IABA has engaged in sustained outreach to congressional offices since early 2026, educating lawmakers on how the adjudication pause operates in practice and its impact on Iranian Americans and other affected communities. Since mid-March, IABA has worked closely with the legislative teams of Senator Markey and Congresswoman Ansari on the scope and legal implications of the pause, and encouraged additional members of Congress to join Senator Markey and Congresswoman Ansari’s April 23, 2026 letter urging the administration to provide protections for Iranian nationals in the United States and restore immigration benefits processing for affected individuals. These efforts helped shape recent congressional inquiries into the policy.

Formal Advocacy
IABA has also engaged directly with the administration. On March 30, 2026, IABA sent a coalition letter to the federal government alongside aligned organizations, urging the restoration of immigration benefits for affected individuals. The letter was also circulated among congressional offices and industry leaders, reflecting IABA’s recognized expertise in immigration law and its role as a representative voice for the Iranian American community. This effort reflects IABA’s broader approach of ensuring that advocacy on these issues extends beyond any single organization and presents a unified call from the Iranian American and wider immigrant community.

Community Support and Education
Recognizing that many affected individuals lack access to reliable information about their rights and options, IABA has organized and participated in webinars connecting immigration attorneys directly with students and other community members who are navigating the pause. These sessions help participants understand their legal situation, available pathways, and practical steps they can take as the policy and litigation landscape continues to evolve. Additional programming is planned as developments unfold. IABA also provides referrals to immigration attorneys for those who need assistance.

Regulatory Engagement
IABA has engaged the federal rulemaking process directly, submitting formal comments to DHS in opposition to the proposed rule on Employment Authorization Reform for Asylum Applicants (DHS Docket No. USCIS-2025-0370; RIN 1615-AC97). The proposed rule would extend the employment authorization waiting period for asylum seekers from 180 to 365 days and authorize suspension of work permit applications when asylum processing times exceed 180 days. IABA opposed the rule as unsupported by evidence, as improperly shifting the burden of agency delay onto asylum seekers, and as disproportionately harmful to Iranian asylum seekers.

Public Awareness
IABA has worked to ensure the human impact of the adjudication pause remains visible in the broader legal and policy debate. This has included elevating the stories of affected individuals, connecting community members with media outlets, and facilitating direct constituent engagement with congressional representatives. Personal accounts from individuals who followed every legal requirement yet now face an uncertain future often resonate with decision-makers in ways that legal arguments alone cannot.