Indian PhD student facing deportation over traffic ticket wins legal battle to stay in US | World News

Priya Saxena, an Indian PhD student in chemical and biological engineering at a South Dakota university, has won a legal reprieve allowing her to stay in the US after the Trump adminration attempted to deport her over a minor traffic violation.
Her student visa —valid until 2027— was abruptly terminated in April due to a 2021 infraction for failing to stop for an emergency vehicle, a violation she resolved paying a fine. Immigration officials claimed it constituted a “criminal record”, though legal experts argue the offence isn’t deportable under US immigration law.
The termination also deleted her SEVIS ( Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) record, barring her from continuing her studies. With her graduation approaching on 10 May, Saxena sued the adminration and was granted a temporary restraining order.
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This week, a federal judge in South Dakota issued a preliminary injunction, blocking the Department of Homeland Security from detaining or deporting her without court approval, The Guardian reported. The judge said DHS’s actions “appear unlawful and are likely to cause Saxena irreparable harm”.

“The rule of law saved an innocent person from unlawful action this adminration,” said her attorney, Jim Leach, arguing that students like Saxena represent “intellectual wealth” and should be welcomed, not targeted.
The Trump adminration has stepped up efforts to deport international students across the US, targeting many over minor infractions. Among them is Saxena, whose visa was revoked for a traffic violation. Others, like Mahmoud Khalil, have lost their visas due to pro-Palestinian activism.Story continues below this ad
These moves the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have sparked a wave of legal challenges, with critics arguing that many targeted students are in the country legally. In a recent court hearing, DHS admitted to scanning the names of over 1 million international students through an FBI database in search of criminal records. The search yielded 6,400 matches, resulting in approximately 3,000 visa revocations.

Saxena’s legal team is now seeking a permanent injunction to secure her long-term status in the country.
What is SEVIS?
 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a US government database maintained the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Universities are required to update any change in an international student’s legal or enrollment status on SEVIS. A terminated SEVIS record means the student cannot re-enter the US and, according to the DHS, “Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents may investigate to confirm the departure of the student”.
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