ACLU Challenges Visa Revocations for International Students
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan has initiated a legal battle against the Trump administration, representing four international students whose student visas were unexpectedly revoked by federal authorities.
As reported by the Associated Press, universities nationwide are discovering these visa status changes through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s database.
The revocation notifications were delivered via email from university officials, citing the reasons as visa cancellation and background checks. The students involved in this lawsuit, who are enrolled at Wayne State University and the University of Michigan, claim to have no criminal records.
Ramis Wadood, a staff attorney with ACLU of Michigan, commented on the lack of clarity regarding the selection criteria for these terminations. “We have not seen any rhyme or reason to how the Trump Administration targeted these students. At most, we have seen a large number of Indian, Chinese, and Nepalese students affected,” he stated. “But their criminal and civil records differ far too much for there to be any common denominator.”
The lawsuit argues that the revocation of these students’ visa status is unconstitutional, infringing upon their due process rights. It seeks judicial intervention to restore their visa status, allowing them to continue their education without the threat of deportation.
Wadood further highlighted the lack of transparency from the government, stating, “The school doesn’t even know why, because the government hasn’t given anybody notice explaining why they’re doing this. [The students] are just left in the dark, and left to pack their bags. But luckily, our four clients want to stand up and fight back against this lawless termination of their status.”
In recent actions, the Department of Homeland Security has revoked the student status of hundreds of international students. This includes 22 students from the University of Michigan, along with others from Michigan State University, Central Michigan University, and Grand Valley State University.
Wadood emphasized the need for community support for international students, saying, “People without American citizenship are our neighbors, they are our friends. They walk down the street, drive down the street with us. And we need to show up for them, support them, and treat them like equal members of our community.”
