The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is lifting adjudication holds on immigration benefits for Cubans and Venezuelans following a federal court ruling that invalidated the agency's previous policy memoranda.
In a July 16 letter addressed to Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), USCIS said it is "taking immediate steps to lift all remaining final adjudication holds previously in place" after the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued its June 5 decision in Dorcas Int'l Inst. of R.I. v. USCIS.
The agency said that, as a result, "processing for Cubans and Venezuelans should resume accordingly."
When Secretary Mullin took office, I sent him a letter urging him to resume citizenship and naturalization processing for thousands of Cubans and Venezuelans in our community whose cases were put on hold, despite having been fully vetted.
— Rep. María Elvira Salazar (@RepMariaSalazar) July 20, 2026
Last week, USCIS responded to my letter,… pic.twitter.com/Eaim8WXKbY
The letter is the clearest confirmation yet from DHS that immigration cases previously frozen under the Trump administration's enhanced national security review policies are moving forward again after the court struck down the underlying memoranda.
USCIS explained that the holds had been implemented in accordance with executive orders and presidential proclamations directing additional national security and public safety reviews for immigration benefits involving nationals from certain countries.
However, the federal court vacated the two policy memoranda that established those processing pauses, prompting USCIS to immediately begin removing the remaining adjudication holds.
Beyond restarting immigration case processing, DHS also revealed that USCIS is "examining options for individuals under the Cuban Adjustment Act," suggesting the agency is evaluating additional pathways or procedural changes affecting eligible Cuban nationals. The letter does not provide further details on what those options may include.
The agency also addressed another request from Salazar concerning naturalization ceremonies. USCIS said it had never stopped conducting citizenship ceremonies, pushing back against concerns that they had been suspended.
"USCIS never ceased naturalization ceremonies," the agency wrote. "USCIS continues to conduct naturalization ceremonies nationwide, including in the Miami area."
The letter concludes by stating that DHS takes the congresswoman's requests seriously and "will continue to consider the appropriate measures to ensure the safety of American citizens and the needs of your constituents."
Salazar shared the letter publicly on social media, saying she had asked the Department of Homeland Security to resume citizenship and naturalization processes for thousands of Cubans and Venezuelans whose cases had been frozen despite meeting all legal requirements.
The correspondence represents an important development for thousands of applicants, particularly in South Florida, where large Cuban and Venezuelan communities have been waiting for immigration and naturalization cases to move forward after months of delays caused by the now-vacated policy.
