Federal Government Appeals Ruling on International Student’s Visa Status
In a significant legal move, the federal government has filed an appeal against a New Hampshire judge’s ruling that ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to maintain the legal status of Xiaotian Liu, an international Ph.D. student at Dartmouth College. This appeal could reopen Liu’s case after he, along with over 4,000 other students, learned this past spring that his visa status had been revoked by the Trump administration, a decision made without explanation.
The government’s notice of appeal, submitted on Monday, raises concerns for international students nationwide who have faced a tumultuous period marked by visa revocations and legal challenges. Following a controversial spring, the administration appeared to change its approach, announcing the restoration of many students’ statuses in late April and indicating intentions to implement a new system to assess international student records.
However, the basis for the recent appeal remains unclear. Government lawyers have stated that Liu’s status had never actually been terminated, leading to description of the proceedings as "a bit Kafkaesque" by Federal Judge Samantha Elliott during oral arguments. Liu’s legal team learned of his visa issues on April 4 through a communication from Dartmouth, prompting them to file a lawsuit just days later.
As the case unfolds, both the Department of Justice and representatives from the ACLU of New Hampshire—who are advocating for Liu—have not commented on the latest developments. The appeal adds to the ongoing uncertainty for international students, who now await the outcome amid shifting government policies regarding their legal status.
For further details, contact Jeremy Margolis at jmargolis@cmonitor.com.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
