New Delhi: Chinmay Deore, a 21-year-old Indian student pursuing computer science at Wayne State University in Michigan, is one of the four international students who have filed a federal lawsuit in the United States, claiming that their student immigration status was wrongly revoked without proper notice or justification.
The lawsuit, filed with the support of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan, alleges that the termination of their records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) has jeopardised their education, legal status, and future careers.
Her Journey From H-4 to F-1 Status
Deore first moved to the US with his family in 2004 on an H-4 dependent visa. After returning to India in 2008, his family relocated again to the US in 2014. Deore completed his high school education in Michigan and began his undergraduate studies in computer science at the Wayne State University in 2021.
In 2022, when he was nearing the age limit for dependent H-4 status, Deore transitioned lawfully to F-1 student status, the visa type that allows international students to study in the US. As per reports, his academic record remains clean, and apart from minor traffic infractions, he has had no legal or immigration violations. According to the ACLU, he was not involved in any political activism or campus protests.
Visa Termination Sparks Lawsuit
The issue erupted on April 4, when Wayne State University informed Deore that his Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record had been terminated. The notice cited an unspecified criminal records check or visa revocation, stating, “TERMINATION REASON: OTHERWISE FAILING TO MAINTAIN STATUS - Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked.”
However, no additional explanation or documentation was provided. “These terminations have put Plaintiffs' education, research, and career trajectory at risk,” the lawsuit noted as quoted by NDTV, adding that Deore has also lost access to Optional Practical Training (OPT) and a job he was legally holding under the F-1 status.
Deore, who resides with his family in Canton, Michigan, is now facing the prospect of removal from the US, potentially separating him from his lawfully residing parents and sister. The lawsuit has urged the court to reinstate the students’ status and protect them from detention and deportation.
Alongside Deore, students from China and Nepal, all of whom were pursuing advanced degrees, are also plaintiffs in the suit.
