On August 26, 2026, a federal immigration judge in Chicago ordered the removal of six children whose applications for lawful permanent resident status remain unresolved. The judge’s decision requires the children to be taken from the United States while their green‑card petitions are still pending adjudication.
The order applies specifically to the six minors, none of whom have yet received a final determination on their immigration status. Their pending applications mean that the families are still awaiting a decision that could grant them legal residency, but the removal directive proceeds regardless of that pending status.
U.S. immigration law permits judges to issue removal orders even when an individual’s request for legal status has not been decided. This authority allows the courts to enforce removal while other aspects of a case, such as a green‑card application, are still under review. The Chicago judge’s action follows this legal framework, demonstrating that pending applications do not automatically shield individuals from deportation orders.
The six children will now be subject to removal procedures, which may involve detention and eventual transport out of the country unless a higher court intervenes or the pending applications are approved before the removal can be carried out. Their families retain the ability to pursue appeals or seek relief, but the current order stands as the immediate legal requirement.
The situation underscores the complexity of immigration enforcement, where pending status does not guarantee protection from removal. As the cases move forward, the children’s future in the United States will depend on the outcome of their green‑card applications and any subsequent legal challenges to the judge’s order.