Two graduate students from Montana State University have sought intervention from a federal court to halt actions by the Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which threaten their foreign student status and could lead to their immediate deportation. This situation arose after Montana’s largest public universities reported that four international students had their F-1 visas and statuses revoked, potentially subjecting them to deportation. The scenario reflects numerous similar cases nationwide.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Montana has filed a motion on behalf of two of these students, whose identities remain confidential in court documents. The students reportedly received standard letters indicating their status was revoked due to unspecified criminal activities, despite neither being charged or convicted of any crime, causing significant confusion and distress.
The Department of Homeland Security’s actions not only involve the revocation of the F-1 visas, which permit entry into the United States, but also the cancellation of their F-1 status, essential for lawful residence and employment opportunities such as teaching or research positions. This legal challenge argues that the administration’s actions have effectively eliminated the students’ ability to earn a living or receive payment.
The lawsuit asserts that the revocation of an F-1 visa does not automatically justify the cancellation of the student’s entire status. The ACLU claims the administration’s actions infringe upon the constitutional due process rights extended to all individuals lawfully residing in the United States, including non-citizens.
According to the court documents, neither student has been involved in illegal activities or demonstrations. The documents further reveal that the changes in status were discovered during a routine database check by university officials on April 10, without prior warning or explanation from federal authorities. The lack of communication and clarity has heightened concerns about protecting the students’ due process rights.
The court filings suggest the policy disproportionately affects students of African, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and Asian descent. The two affected students worry that their extensive academic and research work may be abruptly halted due to these changes.
The ACLU has requested “emergency relief” to prevent the immediate deportation of these students and to restore their status. Additionally, the lawsuit seeks to prohibit the administration from arresting, detaining, or relocating the students outside the Montana federal court’s jurisdiction without proper notice and an opportunity to contest such actions.
International students on F-1 status must maintain a full course load and have limited income options related to their academic field. One of the students, pursuing a doctorate in electrical engineering and physics, faces jeopardy of his graduation timeline, set for December 2025. His ability to financially support his sister, a graduate student in Colorado, is also at risk due to the revocation.
The second student, enrolled in a microbiology program, relies on her teaching assistantship as a vital income source and integral part of her education. The lawsuit contends that these actions violate the Administrative Procedures Act and constitutional guarantees, as the students were denied basic notification and a chance to respond before their status termination.
The court filing indicates that without prompt judicial intervention, the students face imminent risks of deportation, financial difficulties, and academic disruption. It emphasizes the erosion of their due process rights, threatening their education, income, family support, and exposure to potential arrest and detention due to the loss of lawful status.
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