Georgia International Students Challenge ICE Visa Terminations in Federal Lawsuit

Georgia International Students Challenge ICE Visa Terminations in Federal Lawsuit

International students from various states have joined forces to file a federal lawsuit in Georgia against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They allege that the agency has unlawfully terminated their student visas.

The group of 17 students claims that their visas were revoked without due process, despite their adherence to visa requirements. They assert that ICE used the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System to strip them of their legal status.

Details of the Lawsuit and Key Defendants

The lawsuit targets several significant officials, including U.S. Attorney Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons.

According to the plaintiffs, there were vague communications regarding the revocation of their visas. In numerous instances, students were marked as “identified in criminal records checks” without any formal charges or convictions against them.

Case of a Georgia Tech Senior

For instance, a senior at Georgia Tech received a notification just days before graduation while only having a minor traffic charge on his record, which had already been dismissed. This situation exemplifies the unjust nature of the actions taken by ICE against these students.

Legal Implications and ICE Guidance

The lawsuit emphasizes that ICE’s own guidelines indicate that visa revocation alone is not sufficient grounds for the termination of a student’s SEVIS record. Thus, even if a visa is revoked, the student remains eligible to continue their studies. However, upon leaving the United States, they would need to obtain a new visa from a consulate or embassy to return.

Attorneys for the students are actively pursuing a temporary restraining order that would effectively reinstate their SEVIS registrations and restore their legal status within the country.

The Impact of ICE Actions on Education and Residency

The ramifications of ICE’s actions extend beyond academics. The lawsuit highlights that removal from the SEVIS system threatens not only the students’ education but also their legal residency, ability to work, and the prospect of reentering the United States.

“ICE has created chaos in educational institutions as they attempt to ascertain the situation and adequately inform students,