US federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from deporting Indian student
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New York (PTI): A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting a 21-year-old undergraduate Indian whose student visa was cancelled.
Krish Lal Isserdasani has been pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an F-1 student visa since 2021.
Court documents, as seen by PTI, said that “having maintained full-time enrollment and good academic standing, Isserdasani is now in the final semester of his senior year with less than 30 days remaining until an expected graduation on May 10, 2025.”
The documents filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin said Tuesday that Isserdasani “acknowledges that he was arrested on November 22, 2024, after he and his friends got into a verbal argument with another group while walking home late at night from a bar.
"Although Isserdasani was arrested for disorderly conduct, the District Attorney declined to pursue charges after reviewing the case. As a result, Isserdasani never had to appear in court and believed the matter was completely resolved with no possible immigration consequences,” the court documents said adding that aside from this encounter, Isserdasani has had no other interactions with law enforcement.
However, on April 4, 2025, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s International Student Services (ISS) office informed Isserdasani by email that his Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS) record had been terminated.
The SEVIS has been terminated by the US Student and Exchange Visitor Programme operated by the Department of Homeland Security for “Otherwise failing to maintain status- Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked. SEVIS record has been terminated.”
The court papers state that Isserdasani received no communication from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the university, or the State Department regarding any revocation of his visa.
"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,” it said.
It added that as a result of the termination, Isserdasani will be prevented from completing his degree and applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to gain work experience as authorised by his F-1 student visa.
F1 visa is issued to international students who are attending an academic programme or English Language Program at a US college or university.
OPT is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorisation before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion).
According to the email notifying Isserdasani that his SEVIS record was terminated, his authorisation to remain in the United States ends on May 2, 2025, before completing his final semester and graduating on May 10.
"Isserdasani and his family have reportedly invested approximately USD 240,000 in his education in the United States, and he stands to lose USD 17,500 in tuition for the current semester. He would also be liable for rental payments for the next four months despite being unable to remain in the country,” the court papers said.
"Finally, Isserdasani reports that the psychological impact of the termination has been overwhelming, causing difficulty in sleeping and fear that he will be placed in immediate detention and deportation. So much so that he reports being afraid to leave his apartment for fear of being apprehended at any moment,” it added.
District Judge William Conley said in the order that Isserdasani’s motion for a temporary restraining order is granted.
"Pending a preliminary injunction hearing”, the defendants are enjoined from terminating Isserdasani’s F-1 student status records from the Student and Exchange Visitor System and directly or indirectly enforcing, implementing, or otherwise taking any action or imposing any legal consequences as the result of the decision to terminate his SEVIS records, including revoking Isserdasani’s visa or detaining him.
The court will hold a preliminary injunction hearing in the case on April 28.
Madison attorney Shabnam Lotfi said that the order is believed to be one of the first national victories for international student visa holders whose records were terminated. About 1,300 students nationwide have seen their SEVIS records terminated abruptly.
The targeting of foreign nationals affiliated with prestigious American universities comes amid the Trump administration’s larger immigration crackdown, CNN reported.
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"Strongly suspect" involvement of mother, sister in ex-DGP's murder, says son
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Bengaluru (PTI): The wife and daughter of slain former Karnataka DGP Om Prakash have been booked on murder charge, following a complaint from the deceased officer's son that he "strongly" suspected the role of the two women in his father's killing, police said on Monday.
Police have arrested Om Prakash's wife Pallavi and daughter Kriti in connection with the incident.
In his complaint, Om Prakash's son Kartikesh alleged that Pallavi had been threatening to kill his father for the past one week.
"Due to these threats, my father had gone to stay at his sister's house," he stated.
"Two days ago, my younger sister Kriti went there and pressured my father to return home. She brought him back against his will," Kartikesh alleged.
He said on Sunday around 5 pm, when he was at the Karnataka Golf Association in Domlur, his neighbour called him and informed that his father was found lying downstairs.
"I rushed home (located in HSR Layout) and found police officers and people present on the spot. My father was lying in a pool of blood with injuries on his head and body. A broken bottle and a knife were there next to his body. He was then taken to St John's Hospital," he explained.
"My mother Pallavi and my sister Kriti used to fight with my father often. I strongly suspect that they are involved in the murder of my father. I request to initiate legal action in this case," he said in his complaint to the police.
The 68-year-old retired IPS officer was a native of Champaran, Bihar, and held a Master's degree in Geology.
Prakash was appointed Director General of Police on March 1, 2015.
