A doctoral student from Ghana, enrolled at New Mexico Tech, has initiated legal action in the U.S. District Court. Known as "K.O.D.," he is challenging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the unexpected termination of his F-1 student status. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico and Huffman Wallace & Monagle LLC are representing him.
K.O.D. discovered on April 9 that his immigration status was terminated without warning. Shayne Huffman of Huffman Wallace & Monagle LLC stated, "The law is clear that this man is entitled to the same basic dignity and due process that any of us in this country would expect for ourselves or our loved ones." Huffman criticized the government's actions as being unfair and called for the recognition of international students as integral members of the community.
The lawsuit addresses broader concerns about the treatment of international students, particularly highlighting arbitrary actions that disrupt lives and communities in New Mexico. Rebecca Sheff from the ACLU of New Mexico noted, "International students bring diverse perspectives and significant contributions to New Mexico's educational and economic landscape." She expressed concern over the lack of transparency in these actions.
The case denounces a pattern of abrupt decisions affecting nearly 2,000 international students in New Mexico and fostering anxiety among them. Huffman emphasized defending K.O.D.'s right to continue his studies without fear of deportation.
According to the lawsuit, student status should not be terminated merely because a visa is revoked, aligning with DHS policies. K.O.D. is seeking court intervention to prevent disruption of his doctoral research and maintain his academic standing. The lawsuit also contends that due process requirements and agency regulations have been violated.
Legal documents supporting the case against DHS and ICE are available for public review.
