2020
Written decisions in the mandamus and agency-delay group decided in 2020, and agency-delay suits filed in 2020.
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.
How the decisions came out
This page counts 127 of the group's written decisions, from 120 cases; the newest of them was decided December 31, 2020. The line at the top counts the whole group.
127written decisions
120cases they come from
24decisions weigh the TRAC factors
26median months from the application to the suit
Each case counts once in these outcome counts, by its latest decision here: the 7 other orders in those cases are listed with their case, not counted again. A motion to dismiss denied and a later judgment for the government count as the judgment. How decisions are grouped into cases.
Disposition, by case
- Granted (either side's motion)6
- Granted in part2
- Denied (either side's motion)20
- Dismissed48
- Dismissed in part; some claims go on17
- Dismissed as moot11
- Remanded to the agency4
- Magistrate judge's recommendation1
- Transferred to another court4
- Stipulated or agreed order1
- Discovery or record order1
- Procedural order2
- Attorney's fees3
Months from the application to the suit
26 months at the median; half fall between 9.3 and 40.1. 51 cases state it.
9 of these are section 1447(b) naturalization suits, whose months run from the application; the statute's 120 days run from the interview, which these figures do not measure.
Months from the application to the court's decision
35.1 months at the median; half fall between 17.9 and 49.6. 74 decisions state it.
Leaves out the 15 decisions holding that the agency had acted: their months to the decision are not a delay.
What the suits asked for, by case
- Decide the application31
- Finish 221(g) processing7
- Decide the asylum application7
- Naturalization hearing or remand (1447(b))9
- Issue a work permit5
- Some other action32
- Not recorded29
Agency, by case
Form or filing, by case
- DS-260 (immigrant visa)21
- 221(g) (consular refusal)16
- N-400 (naturalization)13
- I-765 (EAD)12
- I-918 (U visa)11
- DS-160 (nonimmigrant visa)9
- I-130 (relative petition)8
- I-589 (asylum)8
- I-485 (adjustment of status)7
- I-526 (investor petition)4
- I-539 (change or extension of stay)4
- I-730 (refugee or asylee relative petition)3
Courts with the most decisions
- District of Columbia34
- Southern District of New York12
- Northern District of California9
- Eastern District of California7
- Eastern District of New York7
- District of Massachusetts6
- Eastern District of Pennsylvania5
- Eastern District of Michigan4
- District of South Carolina4
- Northern District of Texas4
- Western District of Washington4
- District of New Jersey3
Download these 127 decisions as a spreadsheet (CSV).
Examples
The newest case with each of the most common dispositions, by its latest decision.
D.N.J., December 23, 2020. Dismissed; prevailing party: government.
D.D.C., December 15, 2020. Denied; prevailing party: government.
N.D. Cal., December 15, 2020. Dismissed in part; some claims go on; prevailing party: each side in part.
How agency-delay suits ended
Most suits end without a written decision: the agency acts and the parties dismiss. These counts come from the docket record (the federal courts' Integrated Database and CourtListener) and count every mandamus, APA and section 1447(b) suit against any immigration agency filed in 2020. Check a delay counts fewer: a court's suits of the last three years against the form's agency.
2,592suits in the docket record
2,581have ended
11still pending
113median days from the suit's filing to its end
How the ended suits ended
- Ended once the agency actedThe plaintiff dismissed, the parties stipulated to dismissal, or the court dismissed as moot: how suits end once the agency decides. The docket rarely says why, or whether the agency approved or denied.1,743
- Dismissed, ground not recordedThe court dismissed and the record gives no ground: it can be a dismissal as moot after the agency acted, for want of prosecution, or a loss.318
- Dismissed on jurisdiction or the meritsDismissed for want of jurisdiction or on the TRAC factors, or judgment for the government.242
- Ended, outcome not recordedThe record shows the suit ended but not how.89
- Remanded to the agencySent back to the agency, usually a naturalization case under section 1447(b).71
- TransferredMoved to another district court.68
- Judgment for the plaintiffA consent, default or other judgment for the plaintiff.50
Days from the suit's filing to its end
113 days at the median; half fall between 63 and 213. 2,581 dockets state it.
Days from the suit's filing to its end, when it ended once the agency acted
104 days at the median; half fall between 62 and 189. 1,743 dockets state it.
199 of these suits have a written decision in the group.