The immigration attorney Willy Allen addressed the most pressing concerns of Cubans with I-220A forms and pending cases in court during his weekly program with Tania Costa, following the official confirmation of the lifting of the USCIS immigration pause on June 12, 2026.
For those who have a I-220A without a Court date, Allen's advice was clear and direct: “If you have an I-220A and no Court date, stay calm at home and wait. Right now it will not be approved because it is still under review.”
The lawyer explained that those cases are still in litigation and that approval is not immediate even though the pause has been lifted.
However, Allen warned of a scenario that some might face. "If you are taken to court, I hope you have previously filed for asylum and that you are ready to prepare and fight for that asylum."
One of the specific cases that was discussed was that of Pedro Luis Machado, who identified himself as a client of Allen's office, with I-220A, a master hearing scheduled for June 25, and I-130 and Cuban adjustment applications already submitted.
When asked what to expect in that hearing, Allen responded: "I don't know who your judge is, but talk to your assistant. What to expect? That he gives us a future final court."
The third case was that of Iván Paredes, who entered the United States through the CBP One application. He has been under the Cuban Adjustment Act for 11 months, has closed his Court case, and resides in Austin, Texas.
Paredes asked if the pause had been lifted, and Allen confirmed it bluntly: "Yes, they removed the pause, Iván. So what you have to do is wait. Just wait for your residency to come through."
These types of cases, in which the court has already been closed and the Cuban adjustment was requested, are the ones that benefit most directly from the lifting of the pause confirmed by USCIS, although Allen has repeatedly warned that the implementation will be slow.
The lawyer described the situation with a phrase that summarizes the moment: "The devil is in the details. They accepted defeat, they're going to start, but now they're dragging their feet little by little."
The USCIS migration pause had been in effect since November 2025, freezing status adjustments, work permits, and asylum applications for nationals from several countries, including Cuba. A federal judge in Rhode Island demanded immediate compliance from the Trump Administration after ruling those policies illegal on June 5 and 6, 2026.
Allen summarized his view of the immigration landscape with a warning that applies to all cases. "For me, the solutions to the issue of immigration will be battles that are won one by one in the federal courts."
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