A U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland has issued a stay blocking USCIS’s August 29, 2025 policy that would have restricted voter registration services at administrative naturalization ceremonies to state and local election officials only. The court order, issued August 3, 2026, in League of Women Voters v. USCIS, temporarily reinstates the prior USCIS policy permitting nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to participate. USCIS has announced it will comply with the court’s order while reviewing whether to appeal.
What changed
On August 3, 2026, the District Court for the District of Maryland issued a stay of USCIS’s August 29, 2025 Policy Alert, which had stated that only state and local election officials—and not nongovernmental organizations—could provide voter registration services at administrative naturalization ceremonies.
The court’s stay order reinstates the USCIS Policy Manual version effective June 28, 2017, which permits NGOs to participate in voter registration at these ceremonies. USCIS has updated its online Policy Manual to reflect this reinstatement and states it will comply with the court’s order pending further review and potential appeal.
Why it matters
If you adjudicate or coordinate naturalization ceremonies, this ruling immediately restores access to NGO voter registration partners. The 2025 policy had narrowed participation to government officials only; the stay reverses that restriction while the underlying litigation proceeds.
For NGOs working on civic participation, this is a preliminary win—but temporary. The case is not yet decided on the merits. USCIS has signaled it disagrees with the court’s reasoning and is considering next steps, which may include an appeal. Until final judgment, the June 2017 policy applies: NGOs may again set up voter registration tables or services at administrative naturalization ceremonies.
Practitioners should be aware that this policy environment is in flux. Court orders can be modified, appealed, or reversed. Verify the current policy state directly with your local USCIS office before advising clients or committing resources to ceremony coordination.
Way forward
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Review the reinstated policy now. Read Volume 12, Part J, Chapter 5, Sections F & H of the USCIS Policy Manual to understand which NGO activities are permitted at your ceremony site.
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Reach out to your USCIS field office. Confirm local procedures for NGO participation and any transition steps needed as USCIS shifts back to the 2017 framework.
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Document the stay order. Keep a copy of the August 3, 2026 District Court order (League of Women Voters v. USCIS, No. 25-cv-3777 (D. Md.)) in your case file if litigation or policy disputes arise.
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Monitor for appeal activity. USCIS indicated it is reviewing the decision; watch for notices of appeal or further court orders that could change the rule again.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Fola is a technology company, not a law firm. Immigration policy and court orders can change without notice. Consult a licensed immigration attorney before relying on this information for client advice, ceremony planning, or litigation strategy. Always verify against the primary source—the court order and current USCIS Policy Manual linked above—before taking action.