UPDATE 3: On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, a federal court in Missoula granted a preliminary injunction preventing the Trump Administration from revoking these studens' F-1 visa status for the duration of this case. The injunction allows the students to continue their studies and avoid facing the risk of detention and deportation. See the related ACLU of Montana press release here.
UPDATE 2: On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, Judge Christensen extended the temporary restraining order (TRO) for two weeks to give himself time to prepare a written order on the preliminary injunction.
UPDATE 1: On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the court granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent the Trump administration from revoking these students' F-1 student status while this case proceeds. The court also set a hearing on the case for April 29, 2025.
CASE INFORMATION: On April 14, 2025, the ACLU of Montana filed a complaint along with a request for a temporary restraining order/preliminary injunction in federal court on behalf of two Montana State University graduate students who had their F-1 student immigration status unlawfully and abruptly terminated by the Trump administration on April 10th with no notice or specified explanation as to why.
Despite no criminal convictions nor immigration violations and having never participated in any protest in the United States or elsewhere, these students were told that due to the termination of their student status, they are “expected to depart the United States immediately.” The lawsuit asks the Court to reinstate these students’ F-1 student status, allowing them to continue their studies and avoid facing the risk of detention and deportation.
The action against these students comes against the backdrop of federal immigration officials undertaking unprecedented nation-wide actions rescinding the legal status of hundreds of international students.
