Refugee Green Card Freeze Faces New Lawsuit: What Applicants Should Know

A group of refugee advocacy organizations and four individual refugees filed a class action lawsuit on Monday, October 26, 2026, in federal court in Massachusetts. The case targets the government's hold on green card applications from people who came to the United States as refugees. Refugees are generally expected to apply for a green card one year after they arrive. According to a letter from faith-based and resettlement groups, USCIS placed a hold on green card applications (Form I-485) for refugees admitted between January 20, 2021 and February 20, 2025, under a memo dated November 20, 2025. The same letter said refugee green card cases remain largely frozen, with fewer than 300 processed so far in 2026. The lawsuit also challenges a plan to re-review refugees who were already admitted, and a new rule that would make it easier to end refugee status. We covered that rule in a separate article, so we will not repeat its details here. Democracy Forward, one of the groups in the case, said DHS estimates that about 113,000 refugees have pending green card applications. It also said the termination rule could affect as many as 186,000 cases. The plaintiffs are asking the court for emergency relief to stop these policies while the case moves forward. This is a new filing. We found no report of a judge ruling on it yet, so the hold has not been lifted based on what we could confirm. What this means for you: If you are a refugee, or a family member who came with a refugee, and your green card application is pending, keep your receipt notices, copies of every form you filed, and proof of your arrival date in one safe place. You can check your case status online with your receipt number. A long wait does not mean your case is closed, so please do not give up on it. Watch your mail and your online account for any interview notice or request for more evidence, and respond before the deadline. If you receive a notice that your refugee status may be reviewed or ended, get legal help right away, because the time to respond can be short. Talk to an immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative before you sign or send anything about your case. It also helps to plan for possible delays. Keep your passport, travel documents, and work permit information up to date, and do not travel outside the United States without first talking to an immigration attorney. If your family is facing urgent medical or financial needs, ask a trusted legal or community organization about options for expedited review. The lawsuit could change the rules for many families, but court cases can take time. Check official USCIS announcements and your own case status regularly, and rely on official sources or a qualified legal representative for decisions about your case. This article is general information, not legal advice. Sources: Refugees Fight DHS Green Card Freeze, Termination Rule - Law360: https://www.law360.com/classaction/articles/2542470 Advocacy groups sue Trump administration refugee policy changes - The Hill: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6172794-advocacy-groups-sue-trump-refugee-policy/ Lawsuit Challenges New Trump-Vance Administration Rules that Strip Refugees of Legal Protections Without Due Process - Democracy Forward: https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/lawsuit-challenges-new-trump-vance-administration-rules-that-strip-refugees-of-legal-protections-without-due-process/ Office of Peacebuilding and Policy signs on to letter supporting green card holders and resettled refugees - Church of the Brethren: https://www.brethren.org/news/2026/letter-supports-green-card-holders/ Photo: Anastassia Anufrieva on Unsplash