Washington: Visas revoked, status in the US changed – thousands of foreign students are living through a nightmare in the United States under Donald Trump’s presidency.
But not all of them are taking things lying down.
Three Indian and two Chinese students filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and other immigration officials, accusing them of “unilaterally terminating the F-1 student status of hundreds, if not thousands, of international students.”
The lawsuit, filed through the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) before the US District Court in New Hampshire, states that the “unilateral and unlawful termination” of F-1 status of the petitioners have put them out of lawful student status.
Alleging that they are not able to obtain their degrees and work in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme after graduation, the students have claimed that not only are they facing immigration detention and deportation, but also going through “severe financial and academic hardship.”
How are the students affected
Linkhith Babu Gorrela — His graduation date for the Masters programme is May 20. Without a valid F-1 student status, he can neither obtain his degree, nor participate in the OPT programme.
Thanuj Kumar Gummadavelli & Manikanta Pasula – Both have one semester left before completing their Masters degrees and make use of OPT programme.
Hangrui Zhang – His only source of income is his research assistantship, which has been cut off due to termination of his F-1 student status.
Haoyang An – The other Chinese student will have to abandon his Masters programme despite having already invested $329,196 in his education in the United States, An said in the petition.
“Plaintiffs and proposed class members have maintained their student status by making progress towards completing their course of study, not engaging in unauthorised employment, and not having any conviction for a crime of violence for which a sentence of more than one year imprisonment may be imposed,” the lawsuit mentioned.
It was pointed out that the Trump government did not give notice it is required to provide before terminating a foreign student’s legal status.
