2021
Written decisions in the mandamus and agency-delay group decided in 2021, and agency-delay suits filed in 2021.
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 202 of the group's written decisions, from 195 cases; the newest of them was decided December 29, 2021. The line at the top counts the whole group.
202written decisions
195cases they come from
47decisions weigh the TRAC factors
15.6median 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)15
- Granted in part1
- Denied (either side's motion)31
- Dismissed64
- Dismissed in part; some claims go on20
- Dismissed as moot21
- Remanded to the agency2
- Transferred to another court18
- Stipulated or agreed order1
- Discovery or record order17
- Procedural order2
- Attorney's fees2
- Not recorded1
Months from the application to the suit
15.6 months at the median; half fall between 8.9 and 27.1. 58 cases state it.
5 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
23.6 months at the median; half fall between 12.9 and 40.4. 92 decisions state it.
Leaves out the 42 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 application103
- Schedule an interview5
- Finish 221(g) processing7
- Decide the asylum application2
- Naturalization hearing or remand (1447(b))5
- Issue a work permit17
- Some other action27
- Not recorded29
Agency, by case
Form or filing, by case
- I-485 (adjustment of status)44
- DS-260 (immigrant visa)26
- I-765 (EAD)19
- I-918 (U visa)17
- I-130 (relative petition)14
- DS-160 (nonimmigrant visa)12
- I-526 (investor petition)12
- 221(g) (consular refusal)10
- N-400 (naturalization)8
- I-730 (refugee or asylee relative petition)7
- I-539 (change or extension of stay)6
- I-129 (worker petition)3
Courts with the most decisions
- District of Columbia48
- Northern District of Texas25
- District of Nebraska16
- Northern District of California14
- Southern District of New York14
- Eastern District of New York12
- Eastern District of California5
- District of New Jersey5
- Eastern District of Pennsylvania5
- District of Massachusetts4
- Southern District of California3
- District of New Mexico3
Download these 202 decisions as a spreadsheet (CSV).
Examples
The newest case with each of the most common dispositions, by its latest decision.
D.D.C., December 20, 2021. Dismissed; prevailing party: government.
N.D. Cal., December 22, 2021. Denied; prevailing party: government.
E.D.N.Y., December 23, 2021. Dismissed as moot; prevailing party: neither side.
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 2021. Check a delay counts fewer: a court's suits of the last three years against the form's agency.
5,601suits in the docket record
5,593have ended
8still pending
72median 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.3,973
- 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.653
- Dismissed on jurisdiction or the meritsDismissed for want of jurisdiction or on the TRAC factors, or judgment for the government.354
- Ended, outcome not recordedThe record shows the suit ended but not how.256
- TransferredMoved to another district court.205
- Remanded to the agencySent back to the agency, usually a naturalization case under section 1447(b).90
- Judgment for the plaintiffA consent, default or other judgment for the plaintiff.62
Days from the suit's filing to its end
72 days at the median; half fall between 46 and 128. 5,593 dockets state it.
Days from the suit's filing to its end, when it ended once the agency acted
71 days at the median; half fall between 45 and 123. 3,973 dockets state it.
279 of these suits have a written decision in the group.