Raychel Sanner, Deputy communications director | UNM School of Law Clinical Programs
The U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico has ruled in favor of "K.O.D.," a doctoral student from Ghana at New Mexico Tech, whose F-1 student status was terminated without explanation. This ruling temporarily restores his student status while his case proceeds.
The decision comes shortly after K.O.D. initiated an emergency legal action against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons. K.O.D. is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico and the legal firm Huffman, Wallace & Monagle LLC.
Shayne Huffman of Huffman, Wallace & Monagle LLC stated, "Today's ruling reaffirms that every person within our borders, regardless of where they were born, deserves to be protected from arbitrary actions by the U.S. government." Huffman further emphasized that this decision allows K.O.D. to continue his studies without fear of detention or deportation.
The court observed that the abrupt termination of K.O.D.'s status on April 9, 2025, appeared arbitrary and posed a risk of irreparable harm, justifying immediate intervention. Rebecca Sheff, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU of New Mexico, noted, "Today's ruling sends a clear message that the government cannot arbitrarily target international students.”
K.O.D. has no criminal or traffic violations record in the United States, raising questions about the reasons for his being singled out.
There are about 2,000 international students attending universities in New Mexico, contributing significantly to academia and the state's economy.
The legal proceedings continue as K.O.D. and his legal representatives seek long-term relief.
