Hunter
04/23/25
Four University of Iowa international students have filed suit against the federal government.
The Gazette reports the lawsuit alleges three of the students, whose visas were terminated without explanation, received identical messages from U.S. embassies, warning them that, ‘Remaining in the United States can result in fines, detention, and/or deportation’, and further warning that ‘deportation can take place at a time that does not allow the person being deported to secure possessions or conclude affairs in the United States.
The message also said “Persons being deported may be sent to countries other than their countries of origin.”
The federal complaint names Department of Homeland Security, its Secretary Kristi Noem, and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, and claims the four students have done nothing to violate their student statuses, have no record of serious criminal charges, and remain in good academic standing with the University of Iowa.
Though identified in the suit only as John Doe #1-4, the criminal complaint describes two as Indian nationals, and the other two Chinese nationals. Three of the four students were convicted on OWI charges, while the fourth was convicted of disorderly conduct.
The suit, filed with the U.S. District Court’s Southern District of Iowa on Monday, claims that DHS targeting and abuse of the plaintiffs has caused them intense mental and financial suffering because they cannot continue with their studies and fear being detained and removed if they do so.