Latest news with #KenFalk
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indiana international students have visa status returned after Trump policy reversal
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana announced April 29 that state universities and the Department of Homeland Security have confirmed that international students targeted by the Trump administration have had their legal status and visas restored. Earlier this month, international students living in Indiana and across the nation began receiving notices from their respective universities that the Department of Homeland Security had removed them from its student tracking database. Such removal meant these students had their legal status and visas to stay in the United States revoked without notice. Nine of those international students in Indiana partnered with the ACLU Indiana to file two lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security, arguing that their legal status and visas were wrongfully revoked. Department of Justice attorneys announced on April 25 that the government would restore the student visa registrations of potentially thousands of foreign students in the U.S. More: Trump administration reverses controversial termination of student visas On Tuesday, attorneys with the ACLU of Indiana received additional reassurance after Department of Homeland Security lawyers confirmed the government had restored all of the international students' legal status. 'The last few weeks have been incredibly difficult for these students,' said Ken Falk, legal director, ACLU of Indiana. 'They faced enormous financial, academic, and emotional hardship as a result of DHS's actions, and we're relieved that they once again have their student status. They deserve to continue their studies here in Indiana.' On April 3, 2025, international students in Indiana started receiving notices from their universities' international services departments explaining that their F-1 student status had been revoked. This status allowed them to stay in the United States during their schooling and accompanying practical training, according to the lawsuit. The ACLU filed two lawsuits in the Indiana court system; one in the southern court on behalf of a student attending Indiana University in Indianapolis and another in the northern court on behalf of six Purdue University students, one Notre Dame student and one student from Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne. The two lawsuits noted that the students were in full compliance with the terms of their F-1 status and had not engaged in conduct that would justify the termination. The lawsuit claims that the students were wrongfully removed from Homeland Security's SEVIS record system, a government database that tracks international and exchange students' legal status in the United States. The termination of their SEVIS records meant they would be unable to finish their education in the United States and were at risk of being deported. In April, the ACLU filed a request with the federal court to protect the students from involuntary removal; however, the judge denied this request, claiming that the students had "not demonstrated irreparable harm to warrant the extraordinary exercise of judicial power." None of the students listed in the ACLU lawsuits were subject to deportation proceedings. The two ACLU cases are still active in the Indiana federal courts, even though the Justice Department announced that it would be restoring the student visa registrations of potentially thousands of foreign students. Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@ follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Legal status restored for Indiana international students after DOJ reversal
Indianapolis Star
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana international students have visa status returned after Trump policy reversal
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana announced April 29 that state universities and the Department of Homeland Security have confirmed that international students targeted by the Trump administration have had their legal status and visas restored. Earlier this month, international students living in Indiana and across the nation began receiving notices from their respective universities that the Department of Homeland Security had removed them from its student tracking database. Such removal meant these students had their legal status and visas to stay in the United States revoked without notice. Nine of those international students in Indiana partnered with the ACLU Indiana to file two lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security, arguing that their legal status and visas were wrongfully revoked. Department of Justice attorneys announced on April 25 that the government would restore the student visa registrations of potentially thousands of foreign students in the U.S. On Tuesday, attorneys with the ACLU of Indiana received additional reassurance after Department of Homeland Security lawyers confirmed the government had restored all of the international students' legal status. 'The last few weeks have been incredibly difficult for these students,' said Ken Falk, legal director, ACLU of Indiana. 'They faced enormous financial, academic, and emotional hardship as a result of DHS's actions, and we're relieved that they once again have their student status. They deserve to continue their studies here in Indiana.' How did international students lose their legal status? On April 3, 2025, international students in Indiana started receiving notices from their universities' international services departments explaining that their F-1 student status had been revoked. This status allowed them to stay in the United States during their schooling and accompanying practical training, according to the lawsuit. The ACLU filed two lawsuits in the Indiana court system; one in the southern court on behalf of a student attending Indiana University in Indianapolis and another in the northern court on behalf of six Purdue University students, one Notre Dame student and one student from Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne. The two lawsuits noted that the students were in full compliance with the terms of their F-1 status and had not engaged in conduct that would justify the termination. The lawsuit claims that the students were wrongfully removed from Homeland Security's SEVIS record system, a government database that tracks international and exchange students' legal status in the United States. The termination of their SEVIS records meant they would be unable to finish their education in the United States and were at risk of being deported. In April, the ACLU filed a request with the federal court to protect the students from involuntary removal; however, the judge denied this request, claiming that the students had "not demonstrated irreparable harm to warrant the extraordinary exercise of judicial power." None of the students listed in the ACLU lawsuits were subject to deportation proceedings. The two ACLU cases are still active in the Indiana federal courts, even though the Justice Department announced that it would be restoring the student visa registrations of potentially thousands of foreign students.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge denies request for order to safeguard international students' rights
Judge denies request for order to safeguard international students' rights INDIANAPOLIS —- A U.S. District Court judge denied the ACLU of Indiana's request for a temporary restraining order to protect seven Indiana international students whose lawful status was terminated without explanation. Earlier this week, the ACLU of Indiana filed a lawsuit against the United States Department of Homeland Security alleging that DHS violated the federal Administrative Procedure Act and the students' Fifth Amendment right to due process. 'We're obviously disappointed in this decision,' said Ken Falk, legal director at the ACLU of Indiana. 'These students have invested years of their lives and thousands of dollars in their education. For DHS to terminate their status with no warning or reason is deeply unfair, and we believe it is illegal.' Of the students named in the lawsuit, six are citizens of China attending Purdue University or Indiana University Indianapolis. One is a citizen of Nigeria attending the University of Notre Dame. Two of the students named in the lawsuit are slated to graduate this May. The ACLU of Indiana said it was considering its options.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ISU sued for blocking pride festival
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Tuesday morning, the ACLU of Indiana filed a suit in the U.S. District Court against Indiana State University (ISU) on behalf of The Pride Center of Terre Haute (The Pride Center) after the university allegedly refused to allow the Pride Center's Pride Fest 2025 on ISU's campus. The Pride Center is a non-profit organization that works to create a positive impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals in and around Vigo County. In 2023 and 2024, The Pride Center held its Pride Fest on ISU's campus, but in 2025 the ACLU of Indiana said 'without The Pride Center's knowledge, ISU secured an agreement from the city of Terre Haute to hold Pride Fest at a city park off-campus in 2025.' ACLU says Loogootee Pride Fest is back on In previous years, the festival was held in the 'Quad' on ISU's campus, and the ACLU of Indiana said this open area is designed for 'expressive activity' by both ISU and Indiana Law. The ACLU of Indiana claims moving the festival off campus is in violation of both the university's own policies and the Constitution. 'ISU's failure to provide Pride Fest an on-campus location is directly related to the message of inclusivity, equality, and support conveyed by all Pride festivals. It is clear that the university is censoring Pride Fest because of its support of the LGBTQ+ community. The Pride Center has a First Amendment right to hold their festival in the Indiana State University Quad – a space explicitly designated as a place for free expression,' said the ACLU of Indiana Legal Director Ken Falk in a press release regarding the suit. Rich Lowry speaks with WTWO after ISU cancels his Speaker Series event The Pride Center also alleges that an on-campus site is essential to The Pride Festival as it is a way to show new students that ISU is a welcoming campus. 'The University's denial of a reservation for Pride Fest is part of a recent pattern of ISU preventing or discouraging actions and events that are intended to support the LGBTQ+ community,' said the ACLU of Indiana WTWO/WAWV has reached out to ISU, the ACLU of Indiana and The Pride Center for comment. A representative with Indiana State University has told WTWO/WAWV that the university is not able to comment on pending litigation. We are still waiting for responses from the ALCU of Indiana and The Pride Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
