New York: In a rare legal victory for international students, a US federal court has blocked the Trump-era administration from deporting Krish Lal Isserdasani, a 21-year-old Indian student whose visa was revoked just weeks before his graduation.
Isserdasani, an engineering student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was due to earn his bachelor’s degree in computer engineering in early May. But on April 4, his F-1 student visa was unexpectedly terminated in the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
On April 15, Judge William Conley of the Western District of Wisconsin issued an order prohibiting the Department of Homeland Security from deporting or detaining him. The ruling emphasized that Isserdasani was denied any prior notice or chance to respond before his record was canceled.
The visa termination followed an incident on November 22, 2024, when Isserdasani was briefly detained for a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge after a bar-side dispute. However, the Dane County District Attorney opted not to file any charges, and Isserdasani was never summoned to court.
Madison-based attorney Shabnam Lotfi filed for a temporary restraining order, asserting the visa revocation was unjust. The judge agreed, stating that Isserdasani’s case had a “reasonable likelihood of success” and scheduled a hearing for April 28.
This ruling is among the first nationwide wins for F-1 visa holders facing sudden SEVIS terminations. Around 1,300 students have reportedly faced similar situations.
“We’re relieved that the court upheld justice,” said Lotfi’s colleague, Veronica Sustic.
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