Opinion ID: 176349
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Remand Order and Writ of Mandamus

Text: On June 19, 2009, the district court entered an “Order and Writ of Mandamus” granting the government defendants’ motion for remand. The district 2 Abdelgalel stated that, after he filed this action, the USCIS sent him (but not his counsel of record) notification to appear for English language and history tests, despite the fact that he had already taken and passed these tests. According to Abdelgalel, when he appeared as directed, he was not given the tests, but instead interrogated by federal agents without his attorney present. 4 court noted that it was “not wholly convinced that USCIS has been as diligent as it maintains” in addressing Abdelgalel’s application and that it was “concerned by the ‘bad faith’ arguments” raised by Abdelgalel. Nonetheless, for reasons of economy, the district court concluded that remand was the appropriate relief. However, the district court granted Abdelgalel’s request for a definitive deadline for adjudication. Specifically, the district court directed the government defendants to adjudicate Abdelgalel’s application “within NINETY (90) days of the issuance of this Writ. If Plaintiff’s application is not adjudicated by this date, this Court, upon proper motion, will schedule a status conference and, at that time, may choose to exercise jurisdiction over this matter.” The court-imposed ninetyday deadline was September 17, 2009. The district court stayed Abdelgalel’s motion for attorneys fees under the EAJA. The district court concluded that Abdelgalel had not yet satisfied the “prevailing party” requirement of the statute, but noted that, if USCIS failed to comply with the court’s order, Abdelgalel’s motion for attorneys fees might be revisited. On July 30, 2009, within the court’s ninety-day time frame, the USCIS approved Abdelgalel’s application for naturalization. However, as of September 17, 2009, Abdelgalel still had not been administered the oath of citizenship. On 5 that date, Abdelgalel filed a status report with the district court, advising the court of this fact and asking the court to administer the oath of citizenship. Abdelgalel again requested attorneys fees under the EAJA. On September 23, 2009, Abdelgalel attended the USCIS’s naturalization ceremony, was administered the oath of citizenship and became a United States citizen.