Visa Victory: Dartmouth Student’s F-1 Status Temporarily Restored in Legal Milestone

Unknown Apr 02, 2026 550 Views

In a landmark legal victory, the US District Court in New Hampshire has temporarily reinstated the F-1 visa status of Xiaotian Liu, a graduate student at Dartmouth College, whose immigration status was suddenly withdrawn by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The move is the first major re...

A Temporary Restraining Order was issued: On April 9, 2025, Judge Samantha Elliott issued a TRO restoring the F-1 visa status of Liu until there is a proper ruling to be made in weeks.

Background: Liu's visa was revoked with no notice and explanation given since he had no criminal record nor any history of protesting. It suddenly jeopardized his studies pursuing a doctorate in computer science.

Legal Representation: The American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire (ACLU-NH) and the Shaheen & Gordon law firm brought the suit. They contended that the government's actions were against the principles of law and interfered with Liu's education.

Importance of the Ruling: This is the first time a court has stepped in to prevent visa cancellations since DHS started cancelling the F-1 status of hundreds of foreign students without specific explanations. The ruling potentially paves the way for more wide-ranging legal challenges as well as class action lawsuits.

Effect on International Students: The move serves to bring into perspective the vulnerability of international students in the US and their value to academic circles. Legal professionals and activists have urged reforms to avoid arbitrary revocation of visas.

Remarks by Advocates:

Gilles Bissonnette, ACLU-NH Legal Director, highlighted that no administration should skirt legal procedures to deny students their status and interrupt their studies.
Ronald L. Abramson of Shaheen & Gordon said that people who comply with all regulations must not lose their immigration status because of government capriciousness.

Wider Implications: The case has raised concerns regarding anti-immigrant policies and their effects on foreign students, including Indians, who have also been subjected to sudden visa cancellations.

Sources: Times of India, Bloomberg Law, Economic Times, ACLU-NH Press Release, The Dartmouth

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