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ST. LOUIS RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Columbia family claims application for citizenship unlawfully delayed

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ST. LOUIS — Columbia residents are suing government agencies, citing alleged unlawful delay of application for permanent residency.

Hassan Farra, Roula Kowatli and Noor Farra filed a complaint on May 26 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri against the Department of Homeland Security; Citizenship and Immigration Services; John F. Kelly, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security; et al, alleging that the defendants violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that after nearly two years of waiting, they have made repeated requests to the defendants to have their case adjudicated. The plaintiffs claim their application for permanent residency in the United States continues to be what the government considers a national security concern because of the new policy known as the Controlled Application Review and Resolution Program (CARRP). Despite being law-abiding citizens and submitting the requirements for the application, the plaintiffs continues to be a national threat. 

The plaintiffs allege the defendants illegally prohibited the plaintiffs from upgrading their immigration status to that of lawful permanent resident, despite their eligibility to do so, have taken no action on plaintiffs pending adjustment applications and refused to adjudicate plaintiffs applications in accordance with applicable legal criteria.

The plaintiffs seek to process and adjudicate their immigration benefit applications, award of attorneys' fees, costs under the Equal Access to Justice Act and the relief that the court may deem fit and proper. They are represented by James O. Hacking III of Hacking Law Practice LLC in St. Louis.

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri case number 4:17-cv-01569-JCH

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