Mandamus decisions / Southern District of Texas
Ataman v. Daum
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
In July 2019, Plaintiff, a native and citizen of Turkey, sought asylum in the United States by filing an application with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). |
|---|---|
| Form or filing |
I-589 (asylum)
Read by a model
Plaintiff seeks to compel Defendants to make a final determination on Plaintiff’s asylum application “within two weeks.” |
| What the suit asked for |
Decide the asylum application
Read by a model
Plaintiff seeks to compel Defendants to make a final determination on Plaintiff’s asylum application “within two weeks.” |
| Kind of order |
A ruling on a motion or the petition
Read by a model
the Court DENIES IN PART and GRANTS IN PART Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss and GRANTS their Motion for Summary Judgment. |
| Motion decided |
Motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction; Motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim; Summary judgment
Read by a model
Here, Defendants move to dismiss under both Rule 12(b)(1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a plausible claim for relief. Alternatively, they move for summary judgment under Rule 56. |
| Whose motion |
The government's motion
Read by a model
Defendants have moved to dismiss the case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or, in the alternative, for summary judgment. |
| Disposition |
Granted in the government's favor
The principal motion was granted in full: summary judgment for either side, an injunction or TRO, a writ or order to act, fees. A motion to dismiss granted in full counts as Dismissed; a transfer is listed apart.
Read by a model
GRANTS their Motion for Summary Judgment as to Plaintiff’s APA claim. |
| Prevailing party |
Government
Read by a model
For the foregoing reasons, this Court GRANTS IN PART Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss as to lack of jurisdiction over Plaintiff's mandamus claim and GRANTS their Motion for Summary Judgment as to Plaintiff’s APA claim. |
| The delay claim |
Relief denied
Read by a model
For the foregoing reasons, this Court GRANTS IN PART Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss as to lack of jurisdiction over Plaintiff's mandamus claim and GRANTS their Motion for Summary Judgment as to Plaintiff’s APA claim. |
| Months pending |
62.3 months from the application to the court's decision
Read by a model
In July 2019, Plaintiff, a native and citizen of Turkey, sought asylum in the United States by filing an application with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). |
| TRAC factors |
The court weighed the TRAC factors
Thus, this Court agrees with those courts and holds that the first factor favors Defendants. |
| The government's delay arguments |
First-in, first-out processing accepted; Line-jumping found neutral
Read by a model
In response, Plaintiff does not direct the Court to any contrary authority. Thus, this Court agrees with those courts and holds that the first factor favors Defendants. |
| Threshold rulings | None Read by a model |
| Nationality |
Turkey
Read by a model
In July 2019, Plaintiff, a native and citizen of Turkey, sought asylum in the United States by filing an application with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). |
How the case ended
- Docket
- No. 4:23-cv-02637
- Filed
- July 19, 2023
- Ended
- September 23, 2024
- Suit's filing to its end
- 432 days
- How it ended
- Ended, outcome not recorded
- From the record
- idb disp 6 (judgment: motion before trial), judgment for unknown
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 Fifth 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.
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Norton v. Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 542 U.S. 55
Supreme Court, June 14, 2004. Section 706(1) and mandamus reach only a discrete agency action that the agency is legally required to take, so a court cannot compel programmatic improvements or action the law leaves to agency discretion.
ImmCite: treatment available, history exists, not clearance
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Cheejati v. Blinken, 106 F.4th 388
Fifth Circuit, July 5, 2024. The pace at which USCIS adjudicates adjustment applications during visa retrogression is a discretionary action under § 1255(a) that § 1252(a)(2)(B)(ii) shields from review, agreeing with the Eighth Circuit's Thigulla.
ImmCite: treatment available, history exists, not clearance
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Mendoza-Tarango v. Flores, 982 F.3d 395
Fifth Circuit, December 8, 2020. A § 706(1) or mandamus claim requires a discrete, legally required action, and USCIS had no nondiscretionary duty to administer the naturalization oath at a prison.
ImmCite: unchecked, treatment not confirmed yet, not evidence either way. ImmCite has found no published decision citing this case as of 2026-11-01; it checks for new citing decisions daily. That is not a determination that the case is good law. The citation index lists 7 other decisions citing it, none a Supreme Court, BIA or Attorney General precedent or a published circuit opinion; ImmCite's status does not review them.