Case Summary
LWV, LWVCO, LWVNJ, LWV of Saratoga County, LWV of Charleston Area, and LWV Milwaukee County sued United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) over its recent policy banning third-party voter registration groups from registering new citizens at USCIS-hosted naturalization ceremonies. The complaint asserted the new policy violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
For decades, the League of Women Voters has been a trusted partner of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) in helping to register new voters at USCIS-hosted, or administrative, naturalization ceremonies. State and local Leagues across the country participate in registering new citizens to vote after their naturalization ceremonies. Since starting this work, the League has helped hundreds of thousands of new Americans register to vote, enabling each citizen to fulfill their civic duty of voting and participating in our democracy.
On August 29, 2025, USCIS implemented a new policy that banned nonpartisan, third-party voter registration organizations from participating in USCIS-led naturalization ceremonies. Beginning that day, Leagues were barred from entering USCIS buildings to register new Americans after their naturalization ceremonies.
On November 18, 2025, the national League of Women Voters (“LWV”), the League of Women Voters of Colorado (“LWVCO”), the League of Women Voters of New Jersey (“LWVNJ”), the Leagues of Women Voters of Saratoga County (“Saratoga League”), the League of Women Voters of Charleston Area (“Charleston League”), and the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County (“Milwaukee League”) filed a federal lawsuit against USCIS, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland
The complaint asserted that the new policy, which bans third-party voter registration organizations from doing registration activities at USCIS-hosted naturalization ceremonies, violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and the First Amendment in six ways. First, the policy was adopted and implemented without the proper rulemaking procedure, which includes providing the public with notice and accepting comments. Second, the policy change was “arbitrary and capricious,” lacking a reasoned factual basis. Third, banning third-party voter registration organizations violated free speech protections as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Fourth, the ban violated First Amendment associational rights. Fifth and sixth, the policy further violated the APA because it constituted agency action contrary to free speech and associational rights under the First Amendment.
This case is ongoing.
The League is represented in this matter by Campaign Legal Center.
LWV Timeline
LWV files suit against USCIS
The League files a lawsuit against USCIS in federal court in Maryland challenging its ban on third-party voter registration organizations from registering new American voters at USCIS-hosted naturalization ceremonies. The League asserts the ban violates the Administrative Procedure Act and First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
LWV files motion for preliminary injunction
The League files a motion for a preliminary injunction, asking the court to block the ban while litigation proceeds. The plaintiffs assert the ban was enacted without any evidence and proper process, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, and suppresses the League's First Amendment rights.