Passim

Mandamus decisions / District of Columbia

Palakuru v. Cuccinelli

District of ColumbiaTREVOR N. McFADDENDecided February 22, 2021No. 1:20-cv-02065

Read the decisionOriginal on CourtListener

2,914 written decisions from 2,661 cases in the whole mandamus and agency-delay group, the group's newest decided October 30, 2026. Updated November 3, 2026 at 1:24 a.m. CT; the Passim connector counts the live collection, which can differ by the day's additions and retirements (which total to quote). Coverage: of the 1,606 public decisions since January 1, 2025 that a CourtListener and GovInfo search for mandamus and agency delay finds, Passim holds 1,371 (85%), measured November 3, 2026. Some of what that search finds are not mandamus decisions. Tell us about a decision we're missing.

These are counts of past written decisions and dockets, not predictions of how any case will be decided. A distribution appears only when at least 5 decisions (or 5 dockets) are behind it; smaller groups are listed, not summarized. How it's counted.

What the decision decided

Each value cites the passage it was read from. Values read by a model were checked against that passage; values read by rule come from fixed text patterns. Read the decision before relying on either.

Agency USCIS Read by a model
Plaintiff Guru P. Palakuru sues Tracy Renaud, who currently performs the duties of Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS” or “the Government”).
Form or filing I-526 (investor petition) Read by a model
Palakuru filed his Form I-526 petition in October 2018, so his petition has been pending for over two years.
What the suit asked for Decide the application Read by a model
Among other relief, he seeks an order compelling the Government to adjudicate his petition within 30 days.
Kind of order A ruling on a motion or the petition Read by a model
For these reasons, the Court will grant the Government’s motion to dismiss.
Motion decided Motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim Read by a model
It is appropriate now to consider whether Palakuru’s complaint meets Rule 12(b)(6)’s pleading standards.
Whose motion The government's motion Read by a model
For these reasons, the Court will grant the Government’s motion to dismiss.
Disposition Dismissed The case or every delay claim was dismissed for a reason other than mootness. Read by a model
For these reasons, the Court will grant the Government’s motion to dismiss.
Prevailing party Government Read by a model
For these reasons, the Court will grant the Government’s motion to dismiss.
The delay claim Dismissed Read by a model
Because Palakuru has failed to allege a plausible claim of unreasonable delay under the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), the Court will grant the motion.
Months pending 28.3 months from the application to the court's decision Read by a model
Palakuru filed his Form I-526 petition in October 2018, so his petition has been pending for over two years.
TRAC factors The court weighed the TRAC factors
  • 1. Rule of reasonfavors the government
  • 2. Congressional timetablefavors the government
  • 3. Human health and welfarefavors the applicant
  • 4. Competing prioritiesfavors the government
  • 5. Interests prejudicedfavors the applicant
  • 6. No impropriety neededneutral
Read by a model
The Court finds that the Government’s process for adjudicating I-526 petitions is governed by a rule of reason.
The government's delay arguments First-in, first-out processing accepted; Line-jumping accepted Read by a model
Such a process is reasonable. Courts have recognized that a “first-in, first-out method” satisfies the rule-of-reason inquiry.
Threshold rulings None Read by a model
Nationality India Read by a model
Palakuru is a citizen and national of India who resides in the United States.

How the case ended

Docket
No. 1:20-cv-02065
Filed
July 29, 2020
Ended
February 22, 2021
Suit's filing to its end
208 days
How it ended
Dismissed, ground not recorded
From the record
idb disp 14 (dismissed: other)

A voluntary or stipulated dismissal is how most suits end once the agency acts; the docket rarely says why. Other suits in this court.

Supreme Court and D.C. Circuit authority

District decisions bind no one. On the questions this decision raises, the Supreme Court decisions and the circuit's published decisions listed here bind this court; a circuit disposition marked nonprecedential was not published as precedent and is persuasive only. ImmCite status as read November 3, 2026. Check the current status before relying on one.