A major legal showdown is unfolding over a student visa crackdown that has left hundreds of international students across the United States fearing deportation. A class action lawsuit filed in a federal court on Friday seeks to reinstate the legal immigration status of more than a thousand international students whose F-1 student visas were revoked or terminated abruptly, often without prior notice or clear justification.
The legal complaint represents students from over 170 colleges, universities, and university systems across the country, with a particular focus on more than 100 students based in New England and Puerto Rico. The students involved in the lawsuit allege that their rights were violated when their legal status was stripped without due process. The legal challenge argues that the federal government failed to provide legally required notice before acting to revoke visas or terminate student statuses.
Universities nationwide have reported a surge of students affected by the visa crackdown since late March. According to court documents and university correspondence, approximately 1,100 students have already been impacted, with many more cases reportedly under review. In multiple states, including New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Montana, federal judges have issued temporary restraining orders to block the government from deporting students while legal proceedings are ongoing.
Among the plaintiffs is Manikanta Pasula, a graduate student from India who was close to completing his master’s degree in computer science at a university in New Hampshire. His plan was to remain in the U.S. after graduation by applying for a work authorization program available to international students. However, after his visa status was suddenly terminated, his future in the country was thrown into uncertainty.
Another student, Hangrui Zhang from China, had enrolled in a Ph.D. program in electronic and computer science in Massachusetts. With his student visa now void, he can no longer work as a research assistant, which had been his only source of income. According to the lawsuit, neither student received any advance notice of the change in their visa status, nor were they informed of any specific reason for the action.
In many cases, colleges have reported that the affected students were not involved in any political activity or major legal issues. While the federal government has stated that it is revoking visas of individuals who pose threats to national interests, some of the students are being targeted for minor past infractions like traffic violations, and in some instances, no cause has been given at all.
Recently, the administration has increased its scrutiny of visa holders following rising tensions related to global conflicts. In high-profile cases, some international students have been targeted for deportation due to their participation in protests related to the war in Gaza. However, university officials assert that the majority of those facing visa issues had no involvement in such demonstrations.
The legal challenge argues that the current administration is overstepping its authority by revoking student visas without adherence to established legal protocols. Advocates for the students say that such actions not only violate constitutional protections but also threaten the integrity of the U.S. higher education system, which depends heavily on the contributions of international scholars.
As the case moves through the courts, many international students remain in limbo unable to work, continue their studies, or plan for their futures, while facing the constant threat of removal from the country they have come to call home.
