Attorneys for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security want a federal court to hold off on proceedings in a lawsuit against the agency's proposed "no-match" rule, according to a court filing. The agency is seeking time to rewrite the regulation and bring it back in March.

As originally proposed, the no-match rule could put employers in hot water if they don't take certain steps within 90 days of receiving a letter from the Social Security Administration listing workers whose Social Security numbers don't match their names. Companies could be forced to fire workers who can't match their names with their numbers in the 90-day timeframe. The rule's opponents say the department overstepped its authority and the rule could result in employees with a legal right to work losing their jobs.