HUNTINGTON — A federal judge has temporarily halted the deportation of an Indian graduate student at Marshall University, underscoring the U.S. government’s commitment to due process and lawful immigration enforcement.
U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers issued a temporary restraining order Wednesday, ordering federal officials to restore the student’s immigration status and blocking his removal pending further legal proceedings.
The student, identified in court records as S.V., is facing deportation after his F-1 student visa was revoked. The revocation followed the discovery of a past misdemeanor DUI conviction from a 2020 arrest in Indiana. S.V., who had disclosed the incident during his visa application, completed probation early and has had no subsequent legal infractions since entering the U.S. in 2023.
In his ruling, Judge Chambers emphasized the student’s full disclosure of the conviction and clean record since entering the U.S., stating, “Since he entered the country in 2023, he has not been arrested, charged with a crime or even issued a speeding ticket.”
Chambers noted that similar temporary restraining orders have been issued in jurisdictions across the country, including Montana, Arizona, and the District of Columbia, reflecting a consistent judicial approach to such immigration cases.
The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia is representing the student, alleging violations of administrative procedure and constitutional rights. Chambers concluded that the student is likely to succeed on the merits of his case and found that denying temporary relief could cause “immediate and irreparable injury,” particularly as the student is only weeks away from graduation.
