Comment Opposing Mandatory Online Filing with USCIS

On August 11, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security issued an Interim Final Rule requiring that all applications for benefits from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) be filed online instead of having the option to file on paper. The National Immigration Project submitted a comment strongly opposing the rule since many noncitizens do not have private access to a computer or reliable internet service. We highlighted our particular concern that even noncitizens in detention will have to file USCIS benefits online, even though they rarely have the ability to access the internet.