Ph.D. Graduate Wins Battle Against Deportation Over Minor Traffic Violation: Judge Grants Injunction

An international student from India, Priya Saxena, recently won a legal battle against the Trump administration’s attempt to deport her. Despite some challenges, she earned a doctorate and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.

Just weeks before graduation, Saxena was informed her visa had been revoked due to an old minor traffic offense—a failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. Her attorney, Jim Leach, called this a “low-level traffic offense” and emphasized that it shouldn’t have affected her status.

The case took a positive turn when the court granted her a temporary restraining order. This halted any deportation efforts and allowed her to collect her degrees. Leach remarked, “The rule of law saved an innocent person from unlawful action,” highlighting the importance of fair legal processes.

Saxena had a student visa that was not slated to expire until 2027. Yet, she received a shocking email from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi in April, notifying her of the revocation, which was also reflected in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

In 2021, Saxena had paid a fine for her traffic infraction and had been transparent about it when applying for her current visa. Leach questioned the government’s actions, stating, “It just makes no sense,” especially given that the previously issued visa was valid for several years.

Her situation gained more attention when her graduation coincided with the controversial honorary degree awarded to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. Many protesters voiced their concerns over the treatment of international students and strict immigration policies. Leach juxtaposed Saxena’s academic achievements with Noem’s honorary degree, suggesting it highlighted a significant disparity in recognition based on merit versus status.

In recent news, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed a troubling trend: they had checked the names of 1.3 million foreign-born students against a criminal history database. This process led to thousands of students facing visa revocations. Critics argue that this database may not always include the most accurate or updated information, which could unfairly affect students who haven’t been convicted of any crime.

Kathleen Bush-Joseph, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, explained that inaccuracies in the National Crime Information Center could unjustly penalize students. Cases that were dismissed might still lead to loss of status, which raises significant concerns about the fairness of the system.

This situation reflects ongoing debates about immigration policies and the treatment of international students in the U.S. As more stories like Priya’s emerge, they draw attention to the need for reforms that ensure fair treatment and recognition of contributions made by students from abroad.



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