Cincinnati Resident Sues Over Citizenship Delay

A local applicant is asking the federal court to expedite a citizenship process that has lasted 18 months.

Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Immigration

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of neoclassical building columns in navy and cream, conveying the gravity of federal legal processes. — Meng Ju Liu, a long-time Green Card holder, has filed a federal lawsuit in Ohio to expedite his stalled citizenship application. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Meng Ju Liu has filed a federal lawsuit in the Southern District of Ohio to compel the government to complete his naturalization application. Liu, who has been a Green Card holder since 2002, reports that his application has remained in processing for 18 months despite official benchmarks.

Why it matters

The applicant states that obtaining US citizenship is essential for his international food import and export business operations. He also notes that holding a US passport would provide increased security and peace of mind during necessary international travel.

The lawsuit asks the court to order federal officials to complete required background checks within 30 days. This follows an 18-month wait for an interview, significantly exceeding the 9 1/2 month timeframe posted by USCIS for 80 percent of applicants.

The players

Meng Ju Liu

He is an Ohio resident and a food export business owner who has held a Green Card since 2002.

USCIS

This is the federal agency responsible for overseeing lawful immigration and the naturalization process for the United States.

Trump administration

This is the executive branch of the federal government currently responsible for managing immigration services and policies.

The details

Liu originally applied for citizenship in April 2025 and was told in May 2025 that the agency would reuse his existing fingerprints for security checks. As of May 2, 2026, the application status remained stalled in the processing stage, prompting the Mandamus lawsuit.

2002: Liu became a Green Card holder.
April 2025: Liu applied for US citizenship.
May 2025: USCIS informed the applicant that it would reuse his existing fingerprints.
May 2, 2026: The application status remained as processing.
October 15, 2026: The lawsuit was filed in federal court.

Political Context

Opponents of such litigation often argue that federal agencies require sufficient administrative discretion to handle security screenings without court-mandated deadlines. This lawsuit challenges the current management of immigration services by the executive branch.

This case highlights the potential for significant administrative delays that can impact the business operations of local residents. Those navigating similar federal application processes may face extended wait times beyond the standard processing windows posted by agencies.

The takeaway

Individuals facing extreme delays in federal paperwork may pursue judicial review to address stalled status updates. Applicants should ensure they maintain updated records of all correspondence with USCIS if a legal challenge becomes necessary.