Based on a recent hearing in a lawsuit challenging certain EB-5 regulations, it appears the regulations may be struck down due to the illegal appointment of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretaries by the Trump Administration.[1] Enacted on Nov. 21, 2019, the regulations at issue had increased investment amounts from $500,000 to $900,000 for investments in a targeted employment area (TEA), restricted the ability for investments to be considered within a TEA, and made other changes to the EB-5 visa category. This is the second lawsuit to challenge these EB-5 regulations, the first of which was filed in November 2019.[2] The government in that earlier lawsuit survived a preliminary injunction request on a different basis, one related to the economic harm of the new regulations, as opposed to whether or not DHS had a lawfully appointed secretary.

During the hearing, the U.S. Magistrate Judge reviewing the lawsuit focused on whether the DHS secretaries involved in promulgating the regulations had the proper authority. The regulations were proposed under acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan, and the final rule was issued by Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf. Multiple federal courts and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have found that McAleenan and Wolf were improperly appointed. Because neither McAleenan nor Wolf had the property authority to issue the regulations, the regulations are invalid.

According to the magistrate judge, if she rules in favor of the plaintiffs challenging the regulations, there would need to be a remedy agreed to by the plaintiffs and defendants on winding down the regulations. Further briefing has been ordered by the judge, and a hearing date has been scheduled for May 6, however, the judge may issue a final ruling based on the briefs alone. The judge requested the parties to brief remedies if the regulations were invalidated, a strong indicator of the outcome.

If the regulations are struck down, there is likely no negative effect on I-526 petitions filed by EB-5 visa applicants after Nov. 21, 2019, as the new regulations were inclusive of the old regulations. In other words, all I-526 petitions that qualify under the new regulations should still qualify based on the old regulations.


[1] Behring Regional Center LLC v. Wolf et al., No. 3:20-cv-09263 (N.D. Cal.).

[2] Florida EB5 Investments, LLC v. Wolf et al., No. 1:2019cv03573 (D.D.C.).

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Photo of Dillon Colucci Dillon Colucci

Dillon R. Colucci practices and handles U.S. immigration concerns and helps individuals, families, professionals, skilled workers, investors, and businesses live, work, invest, and do business in the United States. Dillon handles a wide range of immigration matters, including nonimmigrant and immigrant employment-based cases.…

Dillon R. Colucci practices and handles U.S. immigration concerns and helps individuals, families, professionals, skilled workers, investors, and businesses live, work, invest, and do business in the United States. Dillon handles a wide range of immigration matters, including nonimmigrant and immigrant employment-based cases.

Dillon provides business immigration counsel to clients, including HR managers, high-level executives, and employees to pursue a positive immigration outcome for all stakeholders involved. Dillon has focused on administrative appeals work, successfully representing several clients in their appeals of adverse decisions. He also spends time on I-9 employment verification matters as well as H-1B and LCA compliance, including internal and external audits and reviews to minimize employer liability.

Additionally, Dillon focuses on EB-5 immigrant investor matters, regularly working with developers across a variety of industries, as well as private equity funds on developing new projects that qualify for EB-5 investments. This includes the creation of new Regional Centers, having projects adopted by existing Regional Centers or through pooled individual EB-5 petitions. Dillon also counsels foreign nationals on obtaining permanent residency through individual or Regional Center EB-5 investments.