Krish Lal Isserdasani, a 21-year-old international student from India, received major relief this week after a federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to deport him. The computer engineering major at the University of Wisconsin–Madison was just weeks away from graduation when his F-1 student visa was abruptly revoked without warning.
Isserdasani’s visa was cancelled on April 4, following an alleged disorderly conduct incident in November 2024. He was briefly detained after a dispute outside a local bar but was never charged or convicted. Despite this, his visa was revoked, and his record removed from the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVIS), leaving him at risk of immediate deportation.
Court grants temporary protection
On April 15, US District Judge William Conley ruled in favour of Isserdasani, granting a temporary restraining order against the Department of Homeland Security. Judge Conley called the government’s actions unjust and a violation of due process, stating, “Given the amount of Isserdasani’s educational expenses and potential losses from leaving the United States without obtaining his degree, the court concludes he faces irreparable harm for which he has no adequate remedy at law.”
A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for April 28.
Impact on international students
Isserdasani’s case is part of a troubling pattern, with over 1,000 international students across the US reportedly facing sudden visa revocations under the Trump administration. At least 26 students at UW-Madison and 40 across the University of Wisconsin system have been similarly affected in recent months. Many have faced deportation threats for minor infractions or alleged political activity.
Attorney Shabnam Lotfi, representing Isserdasani, praised the court’s decision, saying it reaffirmed the importance of due process for international students. “The government provided no legal justification for terminating these students’ statuses. This ruling offers hope for others facing similar injustice,” she noted.
Meanwhile, Isserdasani remains hopeful he will complete his degree in May and continue his future in the US.