Hunter
04/25/25
A US district judge has temporarily blocked the federal government from deporting four University of Iowa international students.
The students filed suit on Monday to stay in the US, claiming they 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 Gazette reports U.S. District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger instructed the Department of Homeland Security Thursday to restore the four affected UI students’ F-1 status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System — or SEVIS.
She further ordered DHS to not terminate the students’ SEVIS status again without valid reasons and without a proper proceeding in which they’re allowed to review and respond to evidence.
Ebinger also ordered the Department of Homeland Security not to arrest, detain, or transfer the students without providing adequate notice to the Court and the students’ attorneys, allowing them time to contest any action.