Passim

Years

2023

Written decisions in the mandamus and agency-delay group decided in 2023, and agency-delay suits filed in 2023.

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 204 of the group's written decisions, from 203 cases; the newest of them was decided December 27, 2023. The line at the top counts the whole group.

204written decisions
203cases they come from
52decisions weigh the TRAC factors
28median months from the application to the suit

Each case counts once in these outcome counts, by its latest decision here: the 1 other order in those cases is 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)8
  • Granted in part1
  • Denied (either side's motion)9
  • Dismissed126
  • Dismissed in part; some claims go on10
  • Dismissed as moot21
  • Remanded to the agency6
  • Magistrate judge's recommendation6
  • Transferred to another court10
  • Stipulated or agreed order1
  • Procedural order2
  • Sanctions order1
  • Attorney's fees1
  • Other ruling1

Prevailing party, by case

  • Applicant10
  • Government141
  • Each side in part12
  • Neither side40

Months from the application to the suit

28 months at the median; half fall between 14.6 and 37.6. 73 cases state it.

8 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

41.3 months at the median; half fall between 26.2 and 48. 136 decisions state it.

Leaves out the 28 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 application114
  • Schedule an interview10
  • Finish 221(g) processing14
  • Decide the asylum application18
  • Naturalization hearing or remand (1447(b))8
  • Issue a work permit2
  • Some other action25
  • Not recorded12

Agency, by case

  • USCIS138
  • Department of State44
  • Not recorded8
  • EOIR5
  • Department of Justice3
  • ICE2
  • National Visa Center2
  • DHS1

Form or filing, by case

  • DS-260 (immigrant visa)67
  • I-601A (provisional waiver)42
  • I-485 (adjustment of status)21
  • I-526 (investor petition)21
  • I-589 (asylum)20
  • 221(g) (consular refusal)16
  • N-400 (naturalization)15
  • DS-160 (nonimmigrant visa)12
  • I-130 (relative petition)12
  • I-918 (U visa)4
  • I-131 (travel document)3
  • I-765 (EAD)3

Courts with the most decisions

Download these 204 decisions as a spreadsheet (CSV).

Examples

The newest case with each of the most common dispositions, by its latest decision.

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 2023. Check a delay counts fewer: a court's suits of the last three years against the form's agency.

12,036suits in the docket record
11,979have ended
57still pending
83median 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.8,943
  • 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.1,464
  • Ended, outcome not recordedThe record shows the suit ended but not how.720
  • Dismissed on jurisdiction or the meritsDismissed for want of jurisdiction or on the TRAC factors, or judgment for the government.430
  • TransferredMoved to another district court.261
  • Remanded to the agencySent back to the agency, usually a naturalization case under section 1447(b).145
  • Judgment for the plaintiffA consent, default or other judgment for the plaintiff.16

Days from the suit's filing to its end

83 days at the median; half fall between 56 and 160. 11,979 dockets state it.

Days from the suit's filing to its end, when it ended once the agency acted

83 days at the median; half fall between 57 and 154. 8,943 dockets state it.

557 of these suits have a written decision in the group.