Texas International Students Challenge Immigration Status Revocations
Recent federal court rulings have temporarily restored the legal immigration status of three Indian nationals who discovered their student visas had been revoked. This decision reflects a growing concern over the immigration enforcement actions impacting international students across the United States.
Background on the Cases
The three individuals, Manoj Mashatti, Chandraprakash Hinge, and Akshar Patel, were part of a group exceeding a thousand students whose immigration statuses were classified as terminated in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database. This abrupt change has raised alarms among international students, particularly those with minor infractions linked to their prior arrests.
Case Details
Manoj Mashatti obtained an F-1 student visa to pursue a master’s degree in business analytics from the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating in May 2024. Following his graduation, he secured a job as a full-time data engineer, but his immigration status was abruptly terminated on April 2 due to a previous DUI arrest, despite having completed probation for this incident.
Meanwhile, Hinge and Patel, both graduates from the University of Texas at Arlington, faced similar challenges. Hinge arrived in the U.S. in 2020 for his graduate studies, while Patel’s status was flagged due to a reckless driving arrest in 2018, which had been dismissed. Both are reportedly working in North Texas now, with Hinge employed as a thermal engineer and Patel in the computer science sector.
Legal Actions and Developments
Represented by immigration attorney Steven Brown, all three students have filed lawsuits against ICE’s acting director, Todd M. Lyons, in federal courts located in Washington, D.C. Brown argues that the actions taken by the agency are inconsistent, causing undue confusion and distress among the affected students. In Hinge’s specific case, a judge noted that contradicting information presented by ICE led to a decision that his legal status should remain unchanged.
Arbitrary Enforcement Claims
Brown has criticized ICE for what he describes as “arbitrary” and “capricious” enforcement, paralleling issues faced by four students from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley who have also initiated legal proceedings against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Their case exemplifies a broader trend of international students contesting the revocation of their visas on various grounds, including diminished clarity surrounding ICE’s policies and actions.
Government’s Stance on ICE Enforcement
The DHS has stated it regularly assesses visa compliance among international students. Terminations in SEVIS may occur for a variety of reasons, such as failing to maintain enrollment or complying with employment regulations, and the agency notifies the State Department of potential violations. A DHS spokesperson emphasized that for individuals whose visa status is revoked, ICE typically allows a 10-day period for voluntary departure from the U.S.
Wider Impact
This situation is not isolated to Texas; international students nationwide are seeking judicial intervention to suspend the government’s ability to alter their immigration statuses. Reports indicate that in recent days, federal judges across multiple states have granted such requests, revealing a concerning pattern of immigration enforcement against students with minor legal issues.
Conclusion
The ongoing legal efforts by Mashatti, Hinge, and Patel demonstrate the challenges international students face regarding their immigration status in the U.S. as a result of previous convictions. As these discussions evolve within the federal courts, the outcome may influence broader policies surrounding the treatment and rights of international students in the country.
For updates and detailed coverage on this issue, please refer to reliable sources and news outlets.