A federal judge in Georgia has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reinstate the F-1 visa statuses of 133 international students by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The students, many of whom are in good academic standing and nearing graduation, had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System(SEVIS) records terminated without prior notice or explanation.
U.S. District Judge Victoria Calvert granted temporary restraining orders in favor of the students, finding that the government may have exceeded its legal authority and potentially violated both the Administrative Procedure Act and the Fifth Amendment. The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of Georgia by the ACLU and other legal advocates, challenges the legality of the visa terminations, claiming they were used to pressure students into leaving the U.S. despite having valid status.
Government officials maintain that the terminations were lawful and based on security screenings, though the judge noted the students showed no evidence of criminal activity and were not given due process. Calvert also ruled that the students faced irreparable harm, including the loss of education and employment opportunities, and that the public interest favored preserving their legal status while the case proceeds. A hearing for a preliminary injunction is scheduled for Thursday, April 24, 2025.
Reference:
Dorgan, Michael. “Federal judge orders ICE to reinstate legal status of 133 foreign students” Foxs News. April 22, 2025.
