Volume I · Number 1 · October 2026 · readclosely.org
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The Fine Print Behind the Headlines
Edited & written by Muhammad M. Ali · 1L
NewThe Strait and the Double Standard
Lead Essay · Courts · DV-2027

The Lottery the Government Tried to Skip

Congress says the State Department runs a green card lottery every year. This year it didn’t, so a judge ordered it to. Here are the dates that matter, and the scams already lining up.

Muhammad M. Ali · October 2026 · 5 min read
The U.S. Supreme Court. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

The Diversity Visa lottery hands out up to 55,000 green cards a year. It isn’t a favor. It’s the law. This year the State Department just didn’t open it. On October 14 a federal judge told the government that skipping a program Congress wrote isn’t an option. Registration now has to open November 1.

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In This Issue

Essays, explainers and guides

  1. I.The Strait and the Double StandardWashington and Tehran both want the law on their side. Neither wants it on the other’s.Commentary
  2. II.The Lottery the Government Tried to SkipA judge made the State Department run the DV lottery. The dates, and the scams.Lead Essay
  3. III.The Visa Bulletin, Explained for HumansNovember’s numbers, and why your birthplace decides how long you wait.Monthly
  4. IV.The Citizenship Test Got Harder128 questions, 20 asked, 12 to pass. Your filing date picks your test.Explainer
  5. V.What “Due Process” Actually Means at the BorderThe Constitution says “person,” not “citizen.” Here’s what that gets you, and where it runs out.Explainer
  6. VI.Who Can Legally Help You, and Who Can’tRead this before you pay anyone for immigration help.Guide

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