International Students in the U.S. Win Legal Victories After Visa Terminations

International Students in the U.S. Win Legal Victories After Visa Terminations

ATLANTA — A growing number of international students whose legal status was recently revoked by the U.S. government are achieving temporary legal relief through federal courts. Judges across the country have issued orders reinstating the students’ status while their legal challenges proceed.

Anjan Roy, a graduate computer science student from Bangladesh at Missouri State University, was studying with friends when he received an email that his visa had been revoked. “I was in literal shock. I couldn’t believe it,” Roy said. The sudden loss of status forced him into isolation, skipping classes and limiting his communications. A court order has since restored his status, but he remains cautious, asking his roommates to screen visitors.

Roy is one of over a thousand international students at 174 institutions who have had their visas revoked or their legal standing invalidated since late March. According to the Associated Press, many of these cases have been met with legal pushback, resulting in temporary restraining orders in states including Georgia, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

In Atlanta, where Roy is a plaintiff in a lawsuit representing 133 students, immigration attorney Charles Kuck argued that the government lacked sufficient legal grounds for the terminations. He suggested the policy may be aimed at pressuring students to voluntarily leave the country. “The pressure on these students is overwhelming,” Kuck said, citing fear, academic disruption, and career uncertainty.

Government attorney R. David Powell countered, saying the students faced minimal harm, as they could transfer credits or seek opportunities elsewhere.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that the visa revocations targeted individuals deemed to be acting against U.S. interests, including those involved in protests related to the conflict in Gaza or facing criminal allegations. However, many affected students reported only minor infractions or expressed confusion about the basis for the actions taken against them.

Roy, who started his undergraduate studies in August 2024 and began a master’s program in January, said his only prior incident involved a brief interaction with campus security in 2021 over a housing dispute, with no charges filed.

Following the visa termination, Roy received notice from the U.S. embassy in Bangladesh warning of possible detention and deportation, potentially to a third country. He briefly considered leaving the U.S. but opted to stay after consulting legal counsel.

While a judge has temporarily reinstated his legal status, a further hearing is scheduled to determine whether he may remain in the U.S. while the case continues. Despite the uncertainty, Roy remains committed to completing his studies and originally aspired to pursue an academic career in the United States. However, his plans are now uncertain.

In a related case, a lawsuit filed this week on behalf of four students at the University of Iowa detailed the severe mental and financial toll of the visa revocations. One Indian graduate student reported sleeplessness and difficulty eating; another student from China experienced worsening depression, requiring increased medication.

These developments underscore growing concern over the sweeping enforcement action, with many students questioning their future in the U.S. as litigation continues to unfold.