US civil rights group sues Trump administration over mass visa cancellations of international students

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully revoking the legal status of hundreds of international students in the United States, Anadolu Agency reported.

The lawsuit contends that many students, some mid-term in their studies, had their visas revoked without due process, exposing them to deportation and risking their academic progress and financial stability.

Approximately 1,100 students from over 170 institutions have been affected, including those involved in protests against Israel’s war on Gaza and individuals with prior criminal records. The ACLU argues that these actions have severely disrupted students’ educational opportunities, despite their compliance with US laws and visa requirements.

In contrast, Department of Homeland Security officials defend the visa cancellations as necessary for national security and border protection, asserting that those who break laws or support violence should lose their privileges.

Students and their lawyers reject allegations of wrongdoing, emphasizing that the visa revocations occurred without proper legal procedures or chances to contest the claims, which they say violates fundamental legal rights.

State officials report that hundreds of student visas have been revoked recently, with numbers rising. Meanwhile, affected students have pursued legal action in several states, securing temporary restraining orders that currently prevent their deportation.