A federal judge has temporarily halted the abrupt cancellation of a student visa for Krish Lal Isserdasani, a 21-year-old international student from India who is just weeks away from earning his computer engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
The decision, issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge William Conley, came after Isserdasani’s visa was unexpectedly revoked by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 4. The cancellation would have forced him to leave the country by May 2—eight days before his scheduled graduation. The move left Isserdasani, who has studied in the U.S. since 2021, stunned and scrambling for answers.
Isserdasani’s attorneys say he received no prior notice or explanation from ICE or the U.S. State Department before being informed of the cancellation by UW–Madison’s International Student Services office. The court determined that this lack of due process violated his legal rights.
“Given the amount of Isserdasani’s educational expenses and potential losses from having to leave the United States without obtaining his degree, the court concludes that Isserdasani credibly demonstrates that he faces irreparable harm,” Judge Conley wrote in his ruling.
The visa cancellation stemmed from a disorderly conduct incident in November 2024 outside a Madison bar. Although Isserdasani was cited in connection with the argument, he was not convicted, nor was he given the opportunity to contest the visa termination. His name appeared in a criminal record database, which appears to have triggered the cancellation—one of over 1,000 visa revocations for international students across the U.S. since January, according to immigration lawyers tracking the cases.
“This ruling is a step toward ensuring fairness and legal protection for international students facing arbitrary actions,” said one of Isserdasani’s attorneys, speaking after the court’s decision.
UW–Madison confirmed that Isserdasani is among at least 26 international students at the university—and 40 across the University of Wisconsin system—whose visas were revoked in recent months. Many of these students were reportedly targeted over minor offenses or for participating in political activities, raising broader concerns about a systemic crackdown on international students under the Trump-era immigration agenda.
Though the administration has defended the revocations as necessary for national security and public safety, critics argue the policy lacks transparency and disproportionately harms students with no history of criminal behavior or intent to violate immigration laws.
Judge Conley’s order provides temporary relief, allowing Isserdasani to remain in the U.S. as his legal team challenges the visa revocation in court. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 28.
Isserdasani, who has maintained a strong academic record and was preparing for job interviews in the U.S. tech sector, expressed relief at the court’s ruling. His legal team is now focused on ensuring he can complete his degree without the looming threat of deportation.
The case has spotlighted growing concerns about the treatment of international students in the U.S. and the chilling effect such sudden policy changes can have on educational institutions that rely on global talent.
“This isn’t just about one student—it’s about protecting the integrity of our immigration system and the promise of opportunity that American universities offer,” said a spokesperson for the American Council on Education, which has been monitoring the uptick in student visa revocations. As legal proceedings continue, advocates hope the case will serve as a catalyst for broader reform in how student visas are managed and reviewed by federal agencies.
Read here.
The decision, issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge William Conley, came after Isserdasani’s visa was unexpectedly revoked by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 4. The cancellation would have forced him to leave the country by May 2—eight days before his scheduled graduation. The move left Isserdasani, who has studied in the U.S. since 2021, stunned and scrambling for answers.
Isserdasani’s attorneys say he received no prior notice or explanation from ICE or the U.S. State Department before being informed of the cancellation by UW–Madison’s International Student Services office. The court determined that this lack of due process violated his legal rights.
“Given the amount of Isserdasani’s educational expenses and potential losses from having to leave the United States without obtaining his degree, the court concludes that Isserdasani credibly demonstrates that he faces irreparable harm,” Judge Conley wrote in his ruling.
The visa cancellation stemmed from a disorderly conduct incident in November 2024 outside a Madison bar. Although Isserdasani was cited in connection with the argument, he was not convicted, nor was he given the opportunity to contest the visa termination. His name appeared in a criminal record database, which appears to have triggered the cancellation—one of over 1,000 visa revocations for international students across the U.S. since January, according to immigration lawyers tracking the cases.
“This ruling is a step toward ensuring fairness and legal protection for international students facing arbitrary actions,” said one of Isserdasani’s attorneys, speaking after the court’s decision.
UW–Madison confirmed that Isserdasani is among at least 26 international students at the university—and 40 across the University of Wisconsin system—whose visas were revoked in recent months. Many of these students were reportedly targeted over minor offenses or for participating in political activities, raising broader concerns about a systemic crackdown on international students under the Trump-era immigration agenda.
Though the administration has defended the revocations as necessary for national security and public safety, critics argue the policy lacks transparency and disproportionately harms students with no history of criminal behavior or intent to violate immigration laws.
Judge Conley’s order provides temporary relief, allowing Isserdasani to remain in the U.S. as his legal team challenges the visa revocation in court. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 28.
Isserdasani, who has maintained a strong academic record and was preparing for job interviews in the U.S. tech sector, expressed relief at the court’s ruling. His legal team is now focused on ensuring he can complete his degree without the looming threat of deportation.
The case has spotlighted growing concerns about the treatment of international students in the U.S. and the chilling effect such sudden policy changes can have on educational institutions that rely on global talent.
“This isn’t just about one student—it’s about protecting the integrity of our immigration system and the promise of opportunity that American universities offer,” said a spokesperson for the American Council on Education, which has been monitoring the uptick in student visa revocations. As legal proceedings continue, advocates hope the case will serve as a catalyst for broader reform in how student visas are managed and reviewed by federal agencies.
Read here.
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