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A federal judge in Georgia has ordered the reinstatement of legal status for 133 international students whose F-1 visas were abruptly terminated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The order, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Victoria M. Calvert, requires the Trump administration to restore the students' legal status by Tuesday (April 22).
The students, many of whom are nearing graduation or are enrolled in work programs, had their records terminated in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) without prior notice or explanation. The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other groups, argues that the terminations were unlawful and used as a coercive tool to force students to abandon their studies and self-deport, despite maintaining valid student visas.
Judge Calvert's ruling grants a temporary restraining order, finding that the terminations likely exceeded statutory and regulatory authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the Fifth Amendment. The judge also noted the substantial threat of irreparable harm to the students, including loss of legal status, education, and employment opportunities.
The government, however, contends that the revocations were valid under existing laws, citing grounds for deportability even without arrests or convictions. Despite this, the judge rejected the claim that reinstating the students' statuses would undermine executive control over immigration.
The case will proceed to a hearing for a preliminary injunction on Thursday (April 24), potentially offering longer-term relief for the students.