A class action lawsuit has been initiated to challenge the recent termination of visas for international students, a move made under the Trump administration that has led to widespread fear of deportation. Filed by several affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the lawsuit aims to reinstate the legal status of more than 100 students across New England and Puerto Rico.
The revocation of student visas without adequate notice has disrupted the education and legal standing of approximately 1,100 students from over 170 educational institutions since late March. This includes institutions such as colleges, universities, and university systems. The Associated Press is investigating reports suggesting that more students might be affected by these actions.
Other legal actions have been pursued as students claim they were deprived of due process in these visa terminations. Some federal judges have responded by granting temporary restraining orders in states like New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Montana, thereby preventing the immediate removal of affected students from the United States.
The plaintiffs involved in the new lawsuit, filed in New Hampshire, discovered their F-1 student visas had been revoked without prior warning, jeopardizing their studies and future in the U.S. Among them is Manikanta Pasula from India, who was nearing the completion of his master’s degree in computer science at Rivier University. Hangrui Zhang from China, a Ph.D. candidate in electronic and computer science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, also finds his academic and professional pursuits in jeopardy.
According to the lawyers, the government failed to provide the necessary notification required before such visa terminations. The Department of Homeland Security has yet to comment on these developments. Previously, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had announced the revocation of visas for individuals perceived as acting contrary to national interests, which included participants in protests related to Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
Despite these claims, educational institutions report that the majority of affected students have not engaged in such activities. Many have been targeted over minor past infractions, and in some instances, the reasons for visa revocation remain unclear.