A U.S. federal court has ruled that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acted unlawfully when it revoked the visa status of an Indian-American student over a dismissed traffic ticket. The center of the case is Akshay PatelAn F-1 student had his legal status terminated after ICE discovered a minor, years-long speeding problem during a massive database scan of international students. The judge said the decision was arbitrary and lacked legal basis, condemning the institution for terminating Patel’s student status without warning or due process and forcing him to cease his studies.Patel, an Indian citizen, entered the United States on an F-1 student visa and attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is an individual with no criminal record. The only incident cited by the government was a 2018 traffic case related to speeding or reckless driving, but that case was dismissed outright.In early 2025, ICE launched what officials called the Student Criminal Alien Initiative, reportedly recording the names of approximately 1.3 million international students through federal criminal databases. Any match, including an arrest, citation or case dismissal, could trigger action. ICE terminated Patel’s SEVIS record after his name surfaced for a 2018 ticket that was dismissed. This immediately deprived him of his status, banned him from attending classes, and put him at risk of deportation.Patel sued ICE, arguing the termination violated the Administrative Procedure Act and basic due process protections. The case was being heard by Ana C. Reyes, who ordered Patel’s reinstatement early in the proceedings and harshly criticized ICE’s procedures as arbitrary and capricious. The court noted that there was no conviction and no evidence that Patel posed any risk.According to reports, on February 27, the court made a final ruling on the merits of the case and supported Patel. The judge found ICE’s termination of his F-1 status was arbitrary and illegal and rejected the government’s attempt to dismiss the case after quietly reinstating his record. The decision formally rebuked the institution for relying on expulsion or minor infractions to terminate students.
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