A collective legal action has been initiated to compel the reinstatement of the legal status of international students impacted by a stringent policy from the Trump administration, which has instigated deportation concerns among over a thousand students. The lawsuit, brought forth by affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), aims to advocate for more than 100 international students situated in New England and Puerto Rico.
The legal director of the ACLU of New Hampshire, Gilles Bissonnette, emphasized the importance of international students in local universities, asserting that no administration should have the authority to arbitrarily revoke students’ statuses, thus disrupting their education and exposing them to deportation threats.
Students across various educational institutions have experienced sudden visa revocations or loss of legal standing, often with inadequate prior notice. An examination of university statements, interactions with academic officials, and legal documents reveals that since late March, about 1,100 students attending over 170 academic entities have been affected by these measures. It is anticipated that the number of impacted students might be even higher as further reports are being confirmed.
Previously, students have initiated lawsuits claiming denial of due process, and some federal judges have issued temporary restraining orders in states like New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Montana, preventing their removal from the United States. Those named in the current lawsuit found that their F-1 visas were unexpectedly revoked, casting doubts on their ability to remain in the U.S. and complete their education.
Among those involved is Manikanta Pasula from India, who was nearing the completion of a master’s degree in computer science at Rivier University in New Hampshire and was planning to apply for continued residency through an employment program for international students. Hangrui Zhang from China had come to pursue a Ph.D. in electronic and computer science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts but now is unable to work as a research assistant, his main income source.
The litigation alleges that the government failed to provide required notice prior to terminating international students’ legal statuses. While the Department of Homeland Security has yet to comment on the lawsuit, previous statements from Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the State Department had been rescinding visas of individuals perceived to be acting against national interests, including those involved in protests related to Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
Colleges have contended that many of the students impacted by visa cancellations are not associated with such protests. These students may have been flagged due to minor infractions, such as outdated traffic violations, with reasons for revocation often being ambiguous.
In some highlighted instances, like that involving Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil, the administration cited participation in pro-Palestinian activism as a deportation justification. Nonetheless, educational institutions argue that the majority of affected students have no connection with these activities.