Ibrahim Gardner
International students in the US have been fighting back against legal challenges to their status in recent years, with some success. In 2025, over 4,700 international students had their permission to study in the US revoked, with little notice or explanation, as part of President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigrants and foreign nationals. In response, students at Harvard University, University of Iowa, and Missouri State University sued the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security, respectively, for violating their constitutional rights and freedoms. In the case of Harvard, a federal judge blocked the administration from revoking the university's ability to enroll international students and sponsor international scholars. In the University of Iowa case, international students sued Homeland Security after their student visas were abruptly revoked without explanation, with a similar outcome. These cases demonstrate the legal avenues available to international students in the US who find themselves in legal limbo and the potential for success in challenging government decisions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can international students sue educational institutions in the US? | Yes |
| Can international students sue the US government? | Yes |
| Can international students sue the US government for visa-related issues? | Yes |
| Can international students sue the US government for status termination? | Yes |
| Can international students sue the US government for status termination without explanation? | Yes |
| Can international students sue educational institutions for visa-related issues? | Yes |
| Can international students sue educational institutions for status termination? | Yes |
| Can international students sue educational institutions for status termination without explanation? | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
- International students stripped of legal status in the US
- Harvard sues Trump administration over barring international students
- University of Iowa international students sue Homeland Security
- Federal judges block immigration authorities from revoking international students' legal status
- International students sue over pro-Palestinian protest visa revocations
International students stripped of legal status in the US
International students are a vital part of the academic community in the United States, making up about 25% of the student body at universities like Harvard. However, in recent times, some international students have faced the sudden termination of their legal status, upending their academic careers and lives in the US.
Anjan Roy, a 23-year-old graduate student in computer science from Bangladesh, studying at Missouri State University, received an email from the university informing him of the termination of his legal status as an international student. This placed him at immediate risk of deportation. In response, Roy stayed indoors, avoided public spaces, and kept his phone turned off. He also stopped attending classes, which his professors understood.
Roy's experience is not an isolated incident. More than a thousand international students have faced similar disruptions, with their legal status abruptly terminated. However, many of these students have found success in court, with federal judges across the US issuing orders to restore their legal status, albeit temporarily. In the case of Roy vs. the US, a judge ruled in Roy's favour, allowing him to return to his apartment and plan his return to classes.
The Trump administration's actions have been criticised as a “widespread crackdown” and an attack on academic freedom. The administration's revocation of international students' legal status has been described as "havoc-wreaking" by District Judge Jeffrey S. White, who blocked the administration from terminating the legal status of international students. Harvard University also sued the Trump administration, with Judge Allison D. Burroughs ruling that the administration's actions violated the First Amendment and the Due Process Clause.
The situation remains uncertain for many international students, with temporary legal status restorations and future hearings pending.
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Harvard sues Trump administration over barring international students
Harvard University sued the Trump administration in May 2025 after it barred international students from enrolling, claiming that the university had an unsafe campus environment. The Department of Homeland Security withdrew the school's certification to host foreign students and issue paperwork for their visas, forcing Harvard's international students to transfer or risk being in the US illegally.
The Trump administration accused Harvard of creating an unsafe campus environment by allowing "anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators" to assault Jewish students on campus. It also alleged that the university had coordinated with the Chinese Communist Party, claiming that Harvard had hosted and trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024. In response, Harvard sued the Department of Homeland Security, arguing that the government's action was a "blatant violation of the First Amendment, the Due Process Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act."
The university's lawsuit stated that the Trump administration's move would have a devastating impact on Harvard and its international students, contributing significantly to the university's mission. It also claimed that the administration was engaging in ""clear retaliation" for Harvard's exercise of its First Amendment rights and that the decision limited the institution's ability to address global challenges by bringing together talents and voices from around the world.
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration's attempt to bar international student enrollment at Harvard, issuing a temporary restraining order against the federal edict. The ruling by US District Judge Allison D. Burroughs prevented the government from implementing the revocation of Harvard's certification. The judge agreed with Harvard's argument that the administration's action would cause ""immediate and irreparable injury" to the university.
The legal battle between the Trump administration and Harvard University has caused uncertainty and concern among current and prospective international students, with many facing the difficult decision of whether to transfer or risk losing their legal status in the country.
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University of Iowa international students sue Homeland Security
Four international students from the University of Iowa sued the Department of Homeland Security, its Secretary Kristi Noem, and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons for terminating their student statuses "without legal justification or explanation". The plaintiffs, identified as John Doe #1-#4, are suing the Department of Homeland Security for violating their due process rights by abruptly cancelling their status as students within the DHS's Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems database. The lawsuit claims that the plaintiffs have maintained their status as students, are in good academic standing, and have not committed any serious criminal offences. Three of the four plaintiffs are studying chemical engineering, economics, or exercise science, while the fourth is working for the State of Iowa as an epidemiologist.
The lawsuit challenges the Department of Homeland Security's "misuse of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems to further unlawful ends," alleging that DHS has initiated a policy of "coercing international students into self-deportation by leveraging ambiguous student-status revocations, coupled with visa revocation notices and threatening language." The lawsuit also emphasizes that the plaintiffs are not challenging the revocation of their F-1 student visas but are instead challenging the DHS's termination of their student status to create a "pretext for future adverse immigration actions against them."
The plaintiffs in the case are represented by University of Iowa law student practitioners Mikhail Acherkan, Jude Hagerman, Angela Pandit, Ian Reeves, Justin Rempe, and Isabella Siragusa, under the direct supervision of Katherine Melloy Goettel, a clinical associate professor at the university's College of Law. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. The Department of Homeland Security has not yet filed a response to the lawsuit.
The University of Iowa is not the only institution to face legal challenges from international students. In April 2025, the U.S. government initiated a campaign of student visa revocations and SEVIS status terminations, affecting hundreds of international students and universities across the country. A federal district judge in Georgia issued a temporary restraining order blocking the termination of 133 international students' legal status.
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Federal judges block immigration authorities from revoking international students' legal status
In May 2025, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from revoking the legal status of international students. The judge's order prevents students from being arrested, detained, or transported based on their legal status until their case is resolved. This decision comes amid a wave of international student visa revocations by the Trump administration, targeting those with records of political activism or criminal charges.
The ruling was made by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White in Oakland, who barred the government from taking action against students based on their immigration status while a challenging case is moving through the courts. Judge White stated that the government's actions had "wreaked havoc" on the lives of the plaintiffs and other international students. This injunction sought by attorneys for about two dozen students who sued after their legal status was abruptly terminated in April by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Trump administration contended that it was exercising its ability to enforce the Immigration and Nationality Act and that ICE had already reinstated the legal status of affected students. However, Judge White found these actions insufficient, noting that the erroneous revocation remained on students' records, impacting their ability to obtain new visas or change their nonimmigrant status.
This legal battle has caused uncertainty and frustration for international students, who feel they have little control over the outcome. Harvard University, which enrolls about 7,000 international students, has also sued the Trump administration over its attempts to bar international students and scholars. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the administration from revoking Harvard's ability to enroll these students.
While the legal proceedings continue, international students' legal status has been temporarily restored, and they have returned to their studies and residences, albeit with lingering nervousness and concerns about their future in the United States.
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International students sue over pro-Palestinian protest visa revocations
International students in the US have been fighting back against the revocation of their visas due to their involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. The Trump administration has revoked more than 600 student visas, primarily targeting international students who participated in pro-Palestinian activism on campus.
The administration has accused these students, without evidence or due process, of supporting terrorism or engaging in antisemitic conduct. In response, many students have filed lawsuits, arguing that their freedom of speech and expression is being violated. Federal judges have issued orders to restore students' legal status, at least temporarily, and universities have sued the administration to preserve their right to enrol international students.
The University of California, for instance, saw its students argue that the order from the Trump administration inaccurately conflated "pro-Palestine advocacy with antisemitism". Similarly, Harvard University filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after it revoked the university's ability to enrol international students. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, blocking the Trump administration from enforcing the revocation and allowing Harvard's international students to continue studying and working legally in the US.
The visa revocations have sparked fear and anxiety among international students and the academic community, with many unsure if they can continue their studies in the US. The situation has also caused concern for universities, who value the contributions of international students and scholars and worry about the impact on their institutions. Faculty members at Harvard, for example, described any loss of international students as potentially devastating.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, international students can sue their educational institutions in the US. For example, in 2025, international students at Harvard sued the US government when their legal status was terminated.
International students can sue their institution on the grounds of unlawful termination of their student status, which is not one of the three specific circumstances in which the Department of Homeland Security can terminate student status.
International students might also sue their US institution for failing to protect them from discrimination, or for failing to provide adequate support services.
There can be a range of consequences for US institutions being sued by international students. These include negative publicity, financial penalties, and damage to the institution's reputation, as well as potential changes to policies and practices.
