A recent ruling by a federal judge could have significant implications. He ordered that Khademi, an Iranian international student, not be subject to detention as he fights the cancellation of his visa. Judge William Conley of the Western District of Wisconsin subsequently issued a historic order. VDL is hopeful that this decision will illuminate the often-toned and discriminatory enforcement of complex visa regulations, including the targeting and treatment of international students in the U.S.
Khademi, 34, was arrested in February 2024 for allegedly not signaling when changing lanes. This event has grown into a much bigger saga related to his immigration status. His long after the arrest, dissolution of his visa. Letter from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s International Student Services, provided to media by UW-Madison, confirming visa was revoked after criminal records check.
The State Department has not released adequate justifications for these cases, such as the criteria for terminating visas and why Khademi’s has been chosen. As we approach April 15, Khademi’s struggle is symptomatic of a much larger problem. At least 57 other international students at other colleges and universities around Wisconsin have found themselves in the same boat.
Legal Proceedings and Challenges
Throughout the court proceedings, Judge Conley repeatedly questioned whether Khademi’s claim was filed in the right jurisdiction. He ruled in Khademi’s favor that her visa had been terminated wrongfully. Most importantly, he thinks it has a “reasonable likelihood of success” in court.
Khademi’s lawyer, Lotfi, has been a key actor in successfully challenging visa policies by the Trump administration. Whatever happens, he’s optimistic about the case and what’s to come. Once his visa was revoked, Khademi instantly lost his work permit. This unexpected new development put his job as executive director of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in jeopardy.
“He was given no warning, no opportunity to explain or defend himself, and no chance to correct any potential misunderstanding before his F-1 student visa record was terminated in SEVIS.” – The order
Khademi had no prior history with law enforcement. His case certainly presents an opportunity to clarify key procedural fairness questions regarding the lack of procedures that resulted in his visa revocation.
Impact on International Students
The consequences of Khademi’s visa cancellation go far beyond his individual case. The case has garnered interest from several academic freedom and international student advocacy organizations including Scholars at Risk, PEN America, and the National Security Archive. In fact, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration cautions these government overreaches sow fear. This environment threatens academic freedom and free speech protections for noncitizen campus community members.
The State Department maintained its position on visa revocations, emphasizing that these actions are taken daily to secure borders and protect communities.
“We don’t go into the rationale for what happens with individual visas,” – Tammy Bruce, State Department spokeswoman
Bruce reiterated that protecting national security is a priority for the department, but her comments highlight the lack of transparency in the process.
Future Implications
Khademi’s case marks one of the earliest wins for international student visa holders fighting in the same boat. Such an outcome would be precedent-setting. It will affect how courts decide cases where a visa is canceled after a police interaction or a criminal check.
The broader implications of this ruling will likely shape how U.S. universities and students affected by immigration policies operate in the future. Khademi’s legal status is currently undermined. There’s a growing cohort of international students like this seeking to know the future of their status, closely watching this case to see what it means for them.
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