Washington/New Delhi: A US federal judge has barred the Trump administration from deporting an Indian undergraduate student whose student visa was cancelled on April 4, just weeks before he was set to graduate.
In a ruling on Tuesday in the Madison court, US District Judge William Conley ruled that Krish Lal Isserdasani, 21, a UW-Madison international student, could not have his student visa terminated and that the Trump administration could not take any legal action against him as a result, including deportation.
The request for a temporary restraining order on the Trump administration’s deportation move was brought by Madison attorney Shabnam Lotfi after Isserdasani’s record was terminated in the government’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) database.
In his 12-page order, Judge Conley wrote the Trump administration had wrongly terminated Isserdasani’s visa one month before he was set to complete his bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and had robbed him of any form of due process to contest the visa cancelation, wiscnews reported.
“Given the amount of Isserdasani’s educational expenses and potential losses from having to leave the United States without obtaining his degree, the court concludes that Isserdasani credibly demonstrates that he faces irreparable harm for which he has no adequate remedy at law in the absence of injunctive relief,” Conley wrote.
Isserdasani is one of at least 26 international students and recent alumni at UW-Madison, and 40 across all Universities of Wisconsin campuses, whose visas have been abruptly cancelled.
UW-Madison has not been informed of the visa cancelations by the Trump administration; instead, staff have been finding the visa cancelations as they search databases every few hours, every day, to learn which of their students have been impacted.
The Trump administration has cancelled the visas of more than 1,000 international students nationally since January.
When entry visas are cancelled, students are subject to deportation and are recommended to leave the US immediately.
Isserdasani’s visa would only be authorised till May 2, forcing him to leave eight days before UW-Madison’s spring commencement.
The ruling doesn’t say when the visa would have expired naturally but notes that, with it cancelled, Isserdasani could not file for an extension so he can search for work.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has attempted to force out international students across the country over myriad reasons, such as for participating in pro-Palestinian protests and for traffic infractions.
In his order, Conley wrote that Isserdasani’s visa seems to have been canceled over an arrest on a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge, which he admitted to in court documents.
The incident, which took place on November 22, 2024, occurred when Isserdasani and a group of friends got in an argument with another group of people while walking home from a bar.
While police had referred a charge of disorderly conduct, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne never brought charges against Isserdasani. He never appeared in court for it and believed the matter wouldn’t affect his student visa, Conley wrote.
Isserdasani had no contact with law enforcement or Immigrations and Customs Enforcement since, Conley wrote. On April 4, Isserdasani was informed his student visa had been canceled, with no explanation other than saying he had failed to maintain his visa status because of the charge referral.
As a result, he had no recourse to explain or correct any misunderstandings before his visa had been canceled, Conley wrote. He now fears leaving his apartment and has struggled to sleep due to fear.
“Isserdasani and his family have reportedly invested approximately $240,000 in his education in the United States, and he stands to lose $17,500 in tuition for the current semester,” the order states. “He would also be liable for rental payments for the next four months despite being unable to remain in the country.”
When entry visas are cancelled, students are subject to deportation and are recommended to leave the US immediately.
