Saturday, March 29, 2025
Washington, April 20, 2025 – Three Indian and two Chinese students studying in the United States have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that their F-1 student visa statuses were unlawfully and unilaterally revoked. The suit has been filed in a federal district court in New Hampshire with the support of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
The students claim that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other immigration authorities revoked their student visa statuses without prior notice or justification, throwing their academic futures into jeopardy and exposing them to potential detention, deportation, and severe financial hardship.
Linkith Babu Gorela (India) – Was just weeks away from completing his Master’s degree when his visa status was terminated.
Tanuj Kumar and Manikantha Pasula (India) – Had only one semester remaining in their programs, but now face the risk of not graduating unless the court intervenes.
Hangrui Zhang (China) – Lost his only source of income, a research assistantship, after losing his visa status.
Haoyang An (China) – May be forced to abandon his studies, which he estimates are worth $329,000 (approx. ₹2.75 crore INR).
The petition argues that:
The students were in full compliance with U.S. immigration laws.
They were making strong academic progress and were not involved in any unlawful employment or criminal activity.
The revocation of their status was carried out without any official notification, violating due process requirements under U.S. law.
According to the ACLU, the government failed to follow legally required procedures before canceling the students’ visa statuses, leaving them in limbo—unable to complete their degrees or participate in post-graduation training programs such as OPT (Optional Practical Training).
This lawsuit not only highlights the vulnerabilities faced by international students under shifting immigration policies but also raises serious questions about the legality and fairness of actions taken during the Trump administration. The ACLU is urging the court to:
Hold the U.S. government accountable for its actions,
Immediately restore the students’ visa statuses, and
Provide remedies for the academic and financial damage suffered by the students.
The case could become a significant legal challenge to past immigration practices and may influence future policy debates around the treatment of international students in the United States.
