The case involves Sawssen Dougaz's challenge to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regarding her Form I-589, Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal. The parties had previously requested and received a stay of proceedings on January 21, 2026, but now seek to move forward with litigation after defendants filed their answer to the complaint in May 2025.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Ajay Krishnan granted the parties' joint stipulation to lift the stay and establish a briefing timeline. The order followed the parties' conference and mutual agreement to place the case back on the court's active docket with a structured schedule for dispositive motions.
Under the procedural history, defendants initially responded to Dougaz's complaint with an answer in May 2025, and the court subsequently granted a stay at the parties' request in January 2026. The joint status report filed April 2, 2026, marked the parties' readiness to proceed with substantive litigation.
The case is set for cross-motions for summary judgment, with defendants filing first by May 6, followed by plaintiff's cross-motion and opposition by July 6, and replies due by early August. The motions will be heard August 19 at 1:30 p.m., potentially resolving the asylum application dispute without trial.