Judge temporarily halts deportation of University of Wisconsin student after Trump visa cancellation

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily halted the removal of a University of Wisconsin-Madison student from India whose visa was terminated from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) database.

Judge William Conley ruled to block the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from immediately deporting Krish Lal Isserdasani, 21, who claimed his F-1 student visa was wrongfully terminated. He’s a senior who expects to graduate in May. 

Officials said he failed to maintain his status as a legal resident due to being identified in “criminal records.”

Isserdasani was arrested on November 22, 2024, after a verbal argument took place outside of a bar, according to legal filings.

“Although Isserdasani was arrested for disorderly conduct, the District Attorney declined to pursue charges after reviewing the case,” his attorneys wrote in court documents.

“As a result, Isserdasani never had to appear in court and believed the matter was completely resolved with no possible immigration consequences. Aside from this encounter, Isserdasani has had no other interactions with law enforcement,” they added.

Isserdani received an April 4 email from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s International Student Services informing him of his visa revocation, which would only authorize him to stay in the U.S. until May 2.

His lawyers said an abrupt exit would hinder his ability to graduate on time and opportunities to gain work experience.

“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,” they wrote, according to court filings. 

“He would also be liable for rental payments for the next four months despite being unable to remain in the country.”

Conley’s temporary injunction blocking his removal will remain in place until April 28 when a preliminary injunction hearing will be held.

“Accordingly, plaintiff Isserdasani has shown a substantial, if not overwhelming, likelihood of success on the merits of his claim in Count 2 that DHS violated the APA [Administrative Procedure Act] when summarily terminated his F-1 student status in SEVIS without cause,” Conley wrote. 

He added that Isserdasani is likely to show that DHS’s termination of his F-1 student status was “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.”

Isserdani’s case is the latest in a series of sweeping removals of foreign students without due process.

The University of Wisconsin said six current students and seven alumni have been impacted by the government’s termination of SEVIS records.

The White House and DHS did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment.