Indian student among four who file lawsuit against US government over sudden termination of immigration status

An Indian student is among four international students who have filed a federal lawsuit against the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and immigration officials, challenging the abrupt and allegedly unlawful termination of their student immigration status.

According to reports, the students Chinmay Deore from India, Xiangyun Bu and Qiuyi Yang from China, and Yogesh Joshi from Nepal are all enrolled in public universities in Michigan. 

The lawsuit filed last Friday claims that their F-1 student visas were terminated without proper notice or justification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan, which is representing the students, stated on Thursday that the terminations appear to be part of a broader immigration crackdown under the Trump administration. The ACLU has also reportedly submitted an emergency request for a court injunction to prevent the students from facing deportation or detention while the case is being reviewed.

The legal complaint alleges that none of the affected students has committed any crimes, violated immigration laws, or been involved in any political protests on campus. Despite this, their legal student status was allegedly revoked with little to no explanation provided to either the students or their educational institutions.

“DHS did not provide the students or their schools with any meaningful explanation for the termination,” the lawsuit states. “In many cases, the only apparent link among the students targeted is that they may have had minor or lawful interactions with US law enforcement such as receiving a parking ticket or withdrawing an application to enter the US. 

The lawsuit specifically names DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons, and ICE Detroit Field Office Director Robert Lynch as defendants.

Similar lawsuits have reportedly been filed in other states, including New Hampshire, Indiana, and California, reflecting a broader pushback against the federal government’s stance on international students.

As per legal experts, the outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for how immigration authorities handle student visa policies moving forward, particularly concerning due process and administrative transparency.