CONCORD, N.H. - Following the U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement in various cases today that it would be reactivating the SEVIS records of some students who had such records terminated earlier this month for no valid reason and without warning, the ACLU of New Hampshire issued the below statement.
From Gilles Bissonnette, Legal Director of the ACLU of New Hampshire:
- “The abrupt, chaotic, and unlawful termination of student statuses struck terror in international students across the country, who were suddenly at risk of detention and deportation despite following all the rules asked of them and simply studying what they love.
“It is clear that the deluge of legal filings and initial judicial rulings in New Hampshire and nationwide have had a profound impact on the government’s decision to reactivate the SEVIS records of some students and allow them to continue their studies. Many questions remain, including the criteria that will be used for these reactivations and whether this will apply to students who did not file lawsuits.
“In the litigation we have filed in New Hampshire, it is too soon to tell how today’s developments may or may not impact our class action lawsuit. We will need to confirm in the coming days whether potential class members who have not sued the government have their student status fully reactivated.
“In Mr. Liu’s case, due to the developments that occurred today, there was an emergency status conference this afternoon. However, because we are unable to confirm at this time where his status stands, the court has extended the temporary restraining order until Tuesday to allow the parties time to discuss these questions and whether an agreement can be reached.”
The ACLU of New Hampshire has filed two lawsuits on behalf of students who had their statuses terminated, including one regarding Ph.D. student Xiaotian Liu at a New Hampshire college and another proposed class action lawsuit to protect students more broadly in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Puerto Rico - filed alongside three ACLU affiliates and law firm Shaheen & Gordon.
