ACLU of Indiana sue Noem, Lyons over student visa revocation
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana has taken legal action against the Trump administration for allegedly terminating the lawful status of seven international students in Indiana without providing any explanation. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, accuses the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of violating the due process rights of the students by not giving them an opportunity to challenge the decisions. The suit specifically names DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to the ACLU of Indiana, the Trump administration has been targeting international students who have been involved in anti-Israel protests, claiming that their actions amount to support for the U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hamas. Additionally, visas have been revoked for international students over minor infractions such as traffic violations.
“The actions taken by DHS have been arbitrary and unjustified,” said Ken Falk, Legal Director of the ACLU of Indiana. “The U.S. government must follow established regulations and provide basic due process before terminating an international student’s status, which it has failed to do in this case.”
The lawsuit seeks to reinstate the status of the seven international students and allow them to continue their studies. A temporary restraining order has also been requested to provide immediate protection to the students. Among the students named in the lawsuit, six are Chinese citizens attending Purdue University or Indiana University Indianapolis, while another student is a Nigerian citizen studying at the University of Notre Dame. Two of the students were set to graduate next month.
The impact of the DHS’s actions on these students’ lives has been significant, leaving them in constant fear of deportation. The ACLU of Indiana is urging the court to intervene and put a stop to what they deem as unlawful actions by the government.
This lawsuit is just one of many complaints the White House has faced regarding the revocation of student visas. Recently, numerous international students whose visas were terminated without explanation filed another suit against the Trump administration, citing a violation of due process.
Trump administration officials have defended the revocation of student visas, asserting that the government has the authority to cancel them. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that there is no inherent right to a student visa and that the government can deny or revoke visas as deemed appropriate.
As this legal battle unfolds, it is crucial for the court to uphold due process rights and ensure that international students are not unfairly targeted or deprived of their education. The ACLU of Indiana’s efforts to protect these students serve as a reminder of the importance of upholding fundamental rights and ensuring justice for all individuals, regardless of their nationality.
