Case: Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

1:26-cv-00132 | U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island

Filed Date: March 5, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research this case.] On March 5, 2026, a group of nonprofits committed to providing immigration services, filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island against the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), USCIS Director, Joseph Edlow, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and former DHS director, Kristi Noem. Plaintiffs challenge four policies (recently enacted by USCIS with the express goal of intimidating noncitizens livi…

[This summary is temporary while we research this case.]

On March 5, 2026, a group of nonprofits committed to providing immigration services, filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island against the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), USCIS Director, Joseph Edlow, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and former DHS director, Kristi Noem. Plaintiffs challenge four policies (recently enacted by USCIS with the express goal of intimidating noncitizens living in the U.S., making life so unbearable here that they are forced to leave, and, if necessary, manufacturing conditions to remove them from the country. These policies have allegedly flung noncitizens living in the U.S. into an indefinite state of limbo, confusion, and uncertainty. Long-term residents who have waited years to secure a green card now have reason to believe they will never be granted permanent legal status. Laborers face the prospect of losing their work permits, their livelihood, and their ability to provide for their families. And eligible asylum seekers who came to this country fleeing persecution are confronting the likelihood that they will never be granted the refuge they seek.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72369535/parties/dorcas-international-institute-of-rhode-island-v-united-states-citizenship/

Judge(s)

McConnell, John James (Rhode Island)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Romero, Amy Retsinas (Rhode Island)

Judge(s)

McConnell, John James (Rhode Island)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Romero, Amy Retsinas (Rhode Island)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:26-cv-00132	Complaint	March 5, 2026	March 5, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72369535/dorcas-international-institute-of-rhode-island-v-united-states-citizenship/

Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:13 a.m.

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	March 5, 2026	COMPLAINT ( filing fee paid $ 405.00, receipt number ARIDC-2250908 ), filed by Venezuelan Association of Massachusetts, Service Employees International Union, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans, Refugee Dream Center, American Gateways, Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, African Communities Together. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A - Nov 27 Memo, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit B - Dec 2 Memo, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit C - Jan 1 Memo, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet, # 5 USCIS Summons, # 6 Edlow Summons, # 7 DHS Summons, # 8 Noem Summons, # 9 USAG Summons, # 10 USAO Summons)(Romero, Amy) (Entered: 03/05/2026) 1 Exhibit Exhibit A - Nov 27 Memo View on PACER 2 Exhibit Exhibit B - Dec 2 Memo View on PACER 3 Exhibit Exhibit C - Jan 1 Memo View on PACER 4 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 5 USCIS Summons View on PACER 6 Edlow Summons View on PACER 7 DHS Summons View on PACER 8 Noem Summons View on PACER 9 USAG Summons View on PACER 10 USAO Summons View on PACER	Clearinghouse
2	March 5, 2026	CASE OPENING NOTICE ISSUED (Simoncelli, Michael) (Entered: 03/05/2026)	RECAP
3	March 5, 2026	Corporate Disclosure Statement by African Communities Together, American Gateways, Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans, Refugee Dream Center, Service Employees International Union, Venezuelan Association of Massachusetts. (Romero, Amy) (Entered: 03/05/2026)	RECAP
4	March 5, 2026	Summons Issued as to Department of Homeland Security, Joseph Edlow, Kristi Noem, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Simoncelli, Michael) (Entered: 03/05/2026)	RECAP
	March 5, 2026	Case Assigned/Reassigned
	March 5, 2026	Case assigned to Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. and Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan. (Simoncelli, Michael)
5	March 6, 2026	MOTION for Kevin Love Hubbard to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2251447 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Romero, Amy) (Entered: 03/06/2026)	RECAP
6	March 6, 2026	MOTION for Ryan Cooper to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2251448 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Romero, Amy) (Entered: 03/06/2026)	RECAP
7	March 6, 2026	MOTION for Anashua Dutta to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2251453 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Romero, Amy) (Entered: 03/06/2026)	RECAP
8	March 6, 2026	MOTION for Catherine M.A. Carroll to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2251454 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Romero, Amy) (Entered: 03/06/2026)	RECAP
9	March 6, 2026	MOTION for Robin Thurston to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2251456 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Romero, Amy) (Entered: 03/06/2026)	RECAP
	March 6, 2026	Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice
	March 6, 2026	TEXT ORDER granting 5 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Kevin Love Hubbard. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 3/6/2026. (Hill, Cherelle)
	March 6, 2026	TEXT ORDER granting 6 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Ryan Cooper. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 3/6/2026. (Hill, Cherelle)
	March 6, 2026	TEXT ORDER granting 7 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Anashua Dutta. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 3/6/2026. (Hill, Cherelle)
	March 6, 2026	TEXT ORDER granting 8 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Catherine M.A Carroll. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 3/6/2026. (Hill, Cherelle)
	March 6, 2026	TEXT ORDER granting 9 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Robin F. Thurston. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 3/6/2026. (Hill, Cherelle)
10	March 9, 2026	MOTION for Kristy Blumeyer-Martinez to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2252076 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Romero, Amy) (Entered: 03/09/2026)	RECAP
11	March 9, 2026	MOTION for Mona Iman to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2252080 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Romero, Amy) (Entered: 03/09/2026)	RECAP
	March 9, 2026	Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice
	March 9, 2026	TEXT ORDER granting 10 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Kristy Blumeyer-Martinez. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 3/9/2026. (Hill, Cherelle)
	March 9, 2026	TEXT ORDER granting 11 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Mona Iman. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 3/9/2026. (Hill, Cherelle)
12	March 13, 2026	Joint MOTION for Expedited Summary Judgment Briefing Schedule and To Waive Statements of Undisputed Facts filed by All Plaintiffs. Responses due by 3/27/2026. (Hubbard, Kevin) (Entered: 03/13/2026)	RECAP
13	March 17, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Kevin Bolan on behalf of Department of Homeland Security, Joseph Edlow, Kristi Noem, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (Bolan, Kevin) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	RECAP
14	March 17, 2026	MOTION for Kalpana V. Peddibhotla to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2255225 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Romero, Amy) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	RECAP
15	March 17, 2026	MOTION for Anisa Rahim to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2255229 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Romero, Amy) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	RECAP
	March 17, 2026	Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief
	March 17, 2026	Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice
	March 17, 2026	TEXT ORDER granting 12 Joint MOTION for Expedited Summary Judgment Briefing Schedule and To Waive Statements of Undisputed Facts: Defendants will produce and file the administrative record by 3/25/26; Plaintiffs will file their motion for summary judgment by 4/3/26; Defendants will file a cross-motion for summary judgment and response to Plaintiffs' motion by 4/24/26; Plaintiffs will file a reply and response to the cross-motion for summary judgment by 5/1/26; and, Defendants will file a reply re: the cross-motion by 5/8/26. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 3/17/2026. (Jackson, Ryan)
	March 17, 2026	TEXT ORDER granting 14 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Kalpana V. Peddibhotla. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 3/17/2026. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)
	March 17, 2026	TEXT ORDER granting 15 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Anisa Rahim. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 3/17/2026. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)
16	March 25, 2026	ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD filed by Department of Homeland Security, Joseph Edlow, Markwayne Mullin, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 -- PA-2025-26, # 2 Exhibit 2 -- PM-602-0192, # 3 Exhibit 3 -- PM-602-0194)(Bolan, Kevin) (Entered: 03/25/2026) 1 Exhibit 1 -- PA-2025-26 View on RECAP 2 Exhibit 2 -- PM-602-0192 View on RECAP 3 Exhibit 3 -- PM-602-0194 View on RECAP	RECAP
	March 25, 2026	TEXT ORDER: Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d), Markwayne Mullin has been substituted for Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in this action. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 3/25/2026. (Simoncelli, Michael)
	March 25, 2026	Order AND ~Util - Add and Terminate Parties
17	March 30, 2026	MOTION for Golnaz Fakhimi to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2259098 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Romero, Amy) (Entered: 03/30/2026)	RECAP
18	March 30, 2026	MOTION for Abbey Rutherford to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2259101 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Romero, Amy) (Entered: 03/30/2026)	RECAP
19	March 30, 2026	MOTION for Melissa Keaney to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2259102 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Romero, Amy) (Entered: 03/30/2026)	RECAP
	March 30, 2026	Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice
20	April 3, 2026	Summary Judgment 1 Supporting Memorandum View on RECAP 2 Exhibit A (Sique) View on PACER 3 Exhibit B (Bah) View on PACER 4 Exhibit C (Medina Neuman) View on PACER 5 Exhibit D (Sweeney) View on PACER 6 Exhibit E (Velasquez) View on PACER 7 Exhibit F (Kassa) View on PACER 8 Exhibit G (Sahid) View on PACER 9 Exhibit H (Yang) View on PACER	RECAP

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Rhode Island

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Immigration Enforcement

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 5, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of Rhode Island 1:26-cv-00132

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/47873/.