A class action lawsuit has been filed in a federal court seeking to reinstate the legal status of international students who have had their visas revoked in a recent government crackdown, leaving over a thousand individuals facing potential deportation. This legal action, initiated by several affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union, aims to represent more than 100 students located in New England and Puerto Rico.
International students have been significantly impacted by these visa revocations, which have disrupted their academic pursuits and placed them at risk of deportation. Reports indicate that students across the country have experienced abrupt termination of their legal status, often without prior notice. Since late March, approximately 1,100 students attending over 170 colleges and universities have been affected. Efforts are ongoing to verify additional cases of affected students.
Some students have filed lawsuits, arguing that their due process rights were violated. Federal judges have issued temporary restraining orders in New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Montana, preventing the removal of some students from the United States. The new lawsuit, filed in New Hampshire, highlights the abrupt termination of F-1 student visas, leaving these students uncertain about their ability to stay in the country and complete their studies.
The plaintiffs include individuals like Manikanta Pasula from India, who was nearing the completion of his master’s degree in computer science at Rivier University in New Hampshire. He had plans to remain in the country through a work program for international students. Similarly, Hangrui Zhang from China was pursuing a Ph.D. in electronic and computer science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. The termination of his status has affected his ability to work as a research assistant, his primary income source.
The lawsuit claims that the government did not provide the required notice before terminating the students’ legal statuses. The Department of Homeland Security has not yet responded to requests for comment. Last month, it was announced that visas were being revoked for individuals perceived to be acting against national interests, including protesters against Israel’s war in Gaza and those facing criminal charges.
Colleges have expressed concerns, noting that many students affected by the visa revocations were not involved in any protests. Instead, they have been targeted over minor infractions, such as traffic violations from the past, and in some cases, the reasons remain unclear.
