US Federal Court Rebukes ICE for Unlawful Visa Cancellation of Indian Student
A United States federal court has delivered a significant ruling against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), declaring that the agency acted unlawfully when it terminated the visa status of an Indian-origin student based solely on a minor traffic citation that had been dismissed years earlier. The court found ICE's actions to be arbitrary, capricious, and devoid of any lawful basis, issuing a stern rebuke for the agency's failure to provide due process.
The Case of Akshar Patel: A Student Caught in a Database Sweep
The case centers on Akshar Patel, an Indian national who entered the US on an F-1 student visa to pursue his education at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Patel is a private individual with no criminal convictions whatsoever. The only incident ever cited by the government was a 2018 traffic case related to speeding or reckless driving that was fully dismissed by the courts.
In early 2025, ICE launched an initiative known as the "Student Criminal Alien Initiative." As part of this program, the agency reportedly ran the names of approximately 1.3 million international students through a federal crime database. Any match in the system—including arrests, citations, or even dismissed cases—could trigger enforcement action. Patel's name surfaced due to the long-dismissed 2018 traffic ticket, leading ICE to abruptly terminate his SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) record.
This termination had immediate and severe consequences: it instantly placed Patel out of legal immigration status, barred him from attending his university classes, and exposed him to the risk of deportation from the United States.
Legal Battle and Court's Scathing Critique
Patel subsequently sued ICE, arguing that the termination of his status violated the Administrative Procedure Act and fundamental due process protections guaranteed under US law. The case was heard by Judge Ana C. Reyes, who ordered Patel's student status to be restored early in the legal proceedings and sharply criticized ICE's handling of the matter.
The court emphasized that there was no criminal conviction against Patel and no evidence whatsoever to suggest he posed any risk to public safety or national security. On February 27, the court issued its final ruling on the merits, siding decisively with Patel.
Judge Reyes held that ICE's termination of Patel's F-1 status was arbitrary and unlawful. The court also rejected the government's attempt to dismiss the case as moot after quietly restoring Patel's record, formally condemning the agency's reliance on dismissed or minor infractions to summarily end a student's legal status in the country.
Broader Implications for International Students
This ruling carries significant implications for the treatment of international students in the United States. It establishes a critical legal precedent that challenges ICE's practice of using broad database sweeps to target students based on minor or resolved incidents.
The court's decision underscores the necessity for immigration enforcement actions to be grounded in lawful authority and proper procedural safeguards. It serves as a reminder that due process rights apply to all individuals within US jurisdiction, including foreign students pursuing their academic dreams.
For the hundreds of thousands of international students studying in America, this case highlights the potential vulnerabilities they face in an increasingly complex immigration landscape and the importance of judicial oversight in checking arbitrary government actions.
