Opinion ID: 176349
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Defendants’ Motion to Remand

Text: In response, the government defendants filed a motion to remand the case to the USCIS, stating that they needed additional time to complete a background investigation. The government defendants asked for 120 days to finish the 1 During the course of the litigation, Eric Holder was substituted for Michael Mukasey as the Attorney General for the United States and Janet Napolitano was substituted for Michael Chertoff as the Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d). 3 investigation and adjudicate Abdelgalel’s application. According to an affidavit attached to the motion to remand, USCIS had re-interviewed Abdelgalel on April 2, 2009 and additional investigation was needed based on unspecified information Abdelgalel provided at that time. Abdelgalel opposed remand, arguing that all necessary background checks already had been completed and the government defendants had not identified any public safety or national security reason for further investigation. Abdelgalel contended that the government had acted in bad faith and asked the district court to adjudicate his application.2 Alternatively, if the district court was inclined to remand, Abdelgalel asked the court to “[e]nter an order, specifically a writ of mandamus, requiring Defendants to adjudicate Plaintiff’s Form N-400, Application for Naturalization within a specific time period . . . .” Abdelgalel also renewed his request for attorneys fees and costs under the EAJA.