Key Updates
Case filed
On April 11, 2025, we filed a case in a federal court in California on behalf of four international students.
TRO motion filed
On April 15, 2025, we have filed a motion for temporary restraining order (TRO) that includes more than 600 pages of materials and evidence. Our goal is to seek a nationwide order to restore SEVIS status for all affected students without criminal conviction record. The motion and one of the key declarations can be downloaded below.
The Judge just issued an emergency TRO in our favor
On April 18, the judge issued an TRO to protect the four student plaintiffs. This is the first victory we have achieved!
Hearing held today and ICE to issue new SEVIS policy
On April 25, we held a two-hour hearing in federal court to discuss the recent "restoration" of some students' SEVIS records and the need for a nationwide TRO to protect all F-1 students. At the end of the hearing, the government lawyer indicated that ICE would issue a new policy on SEVIS termination immediately. Based on this new development, the judge ordered both parties to submit further paperwork to discuss the impact of the new policy on the students next week and will hold another hearing on May 13 to decide whether a nationwide preliminary injunction will be issued.
The judge has extended the existing TRO which is an emergency relief lasting only for 14 days. A preliminary injunction will last till the end of the case, which is much longer (sometimes up to 1-2 years).
ICE issues new SEVIS policy and our motion for preliminary injunction is filed
ICE has issued a new policy regarding SEVIS termination, which is still problematic.
On April 30, 2025, we filed a motion for nationwide preliminary injunction against further SEVIS termination to protect all international students.
Federal judge issues a nationwide preliminary injunction in our favor!
On May 22, 2025, a federal judge has issued a nationwide injunction for all affected international students, a hard-fought victory by our attorneys. This is the first nationwide injunction among all the recent cases for the international students. The fight is not over as the government will likely appeal.
The injunction prohibits the government:
- from arresting and incarcerating any of the named Plaintiffs in these cases and similarly situated individuals nationwide pending resolution of these proceedings;
- from transferring any of the named Plaintiffs in these cases and similarly situated individuals nationwide from outside the jurisdiction of their residence pending the resolution of these proceedings;
- from imposing any adverse legal effect on any named Plaintiffs in these cases and similarly situated individuals nationwide that otherwise may be caused by the termination of their SEVIS record; and
- from reversing the reinstatement of the SEVIS record of the Plaintiffs in these cases and similarly situated individuals nationwide who are maintaining status under 8 C.F.R. section 214.2(f)(5)(i) for reasons not set forth in 8 Code of Federal Regulations section 214.1 without further showing and approval by the Court.