Today, October 13, 2021, Judge Mehta issued the final order in the Gomez class action, granting summary judgment to Plaintiffs on multiple claims and ordering the State Department to process the 9,095 reserved DV-2020 visas for Gomez class members.
Judge Mehta ordered that visas be adjudicated by the State Department by the end of the 2022 Fiscal Year (September 30, 2022). Processing must commence "as soon as is feasible," and the reserved visas must be “issued to eligible qualified immigrants strictly in a random order.” 8 U.S.C. § 1153(e)(2). The government must file periodic reports indicating how many reserved DV-2020 visas it has adjudicated, with the first report due on January 11, 2022 and reports due every 60 days thereafter until all reserved visas have been adjudicated.
We will know within 30 days whether or not Defendants will appeal this order to the appellate court, which could delay or alter the relief ordered by Judge Mehta.
In our joint status report, we had asked the court to address several questions regarding the details of visa issuance. The court declined to answer these questions, only noting, again, that the visas must be issued in random order pursuant to the diversity visa statute.
Judge Mehta ordered that visas be adjudicated by the State Department by the end of the 2022 Fiscal Year (September 30, 2022). Processing must commence "as soon as is feasible," and the reserved visas must be “issued to eligible qualified immigrants strictly in a random order.” 8 U.S.C. § 1153(e)(2). The government must file periodic reports indicating how many reserved DV-2020 visas it has adjudicated, with the first report due on January 11, 2022 and reports due every 60 days thereafter until all reserved visas have been adjudicated.
We will know within 30 days whether or not Defendants will appeal this order to the appellate court, which could delay or alter the relief ordered by Judge Mehta.
In our joint status report, we had asked the court to address several questions regarding the details of visa issuance. The court declined to answer these questions, only noting, again, that the visas must be issued in random order pursuant to the diversity visa statute.
