NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Atlanta, GA, April 25, 2025: A federal judge has temporarily reinstated the immigration status of 133 international students, including 30 studying at colleges in Georgia, whose student visas were abruptly revoked without due process. The ruling marks a significant victory in a case that has drawn national attention and strong support from Georgia civil rights organizations.
The order, issued by Judge Calvert in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia’s Atlanta Division, directs the U.S. government to restore the students’ active records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) halts any terminations of their F-1 visa statuses issued since March 31 and will remain in place for two weeks while the case proceeds.
The students, represented by Kuck Baxter Immigration, filed suit against top federal officials, including the U.S. Attorney General and the Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), asserting that their SEVIS records were terminated unlawfully and without notice.
Georgia-based advocacy groups—the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia (ACLU-GA), Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, and CAIR-Georgia—joined the effort, filing an amicus brief in support of the students. The organizations praised the court’s decision as a vital step in safeguarding immigrant rights.
“The Constitution protects everyone on American soil,” said Akiva Freidlin, Senior Staff Attorney at ACLU-Georgia. “We believe this ruling shows the students are likely to prevail on their claims, and we are pleased the court ordered the government to halt its unlawful actions while the lawsuit continues.”
Samantha Hamilton, Impact Litigation Staff Attorney at Advancing Justice-Atlanta, noted, “The court recognized the urgency with which it had to act to prevent grave injustices. Immigrants’ rights are under constant threat, and this ruling brings hope.”
The affected students, enrolled at institutions across the country, faced severe consequences—ranging from deportation risk to interrupted academic programs—as a result of the unexpected visa revocations.
Aaron Butler, Managing Attorney at CAIR-Georgia, said, “We welcome the TRO as the first step toward protecting international students. It is essential that ICE follow established due process procedures to avoid illegal and arbitrary actions.”
An injunction hearing in the case wrapped up on Thursday, April 24. The judge says she’ll rule in the coming days.
The cover photo was designed on Canva for representation only.
