A federal judge in Washington, D.C., restored an Indian student’s legal status under a U.S. exchange program, sharply criticizing the Trump administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for unlawful mass terminations of international students’ SEVIS records.
Case Background
Mansi Reddy Bushireddy sued ICE on April 11, 2025, alleging Administrative Procedure Act (APA) violations after her SEVIS record was terminated over a dismissed shoplifting charge. U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan, a Biden appointee, quickly granted a temporary restraining order.
ICE’s Response and Court Ruling
ICE reactivated Bushireddy’s status, issued a new policy, and claimed no intent to re-terminate, arguing mootness. The court rejected this, finding ICE failed to prove the conduct won’t recur and ruled the original termination a reviewable “final agency action” with lasting harms like visa revocation.
Broader Impact
The decision highlights ongoing effects for thousands of students: permanent SEVIS event histories, revoked F-1 visas requiring new consular interviews, lost work authorization, and potential ICE scrutiny. The judge expressed outrage at ICE’s referrals leading to unreviewable State Department visa cancellations.
