A federal court recently ruled in favor of Manoj Mashatti, an Indian national, after the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) terminated his Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record. This decision, made by Judge Richard J. Leon of the District Court for the District of Columbia, highlights the rights of international students in the U.S. and raises questions about how immigration enforcement agencies handle student records.
The case stems from an incident in 2022 when Mashatti, who was in the U.S. on a student visa, was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Although the charges were dismissed, ICE terminated his SEVIS record in April 2025, claiming he failed to maintain his visa status due to a criminal record check. The court's ruling emphasizes the importance of due process for foreign students and the standards for terminating their immigration status.
Manoj Mashatti is an Indian citizen who arrived in the United States in 2022 on an F-1 student visa to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Texas at Dallas. After completing his degree in May 2024, he applied for and received authorization for post-completion practical training, which allowed him to maintain his F-1 status. However, in April 2025, Mashatti was informed that ICE had terminated his SEVIS record due to an arrest for driving while intoxicated, despite the charges being dismissed. He received no prior warning or opportunity to contest the termination.
Following the termination, Mashatti filed a lawsuit against Todd M. Lyons, the Acting Director of ICE, claiming that the termination violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and his constitutional rights. The Government sought to dismiss the case, arguing that it was moot since they had restored his SEVIS record after a temporary restraining order was issued. However, Mashatti contended that the case was not moot because the Government's actions did not guarantee that similar incidents would not occur in the future.
In a ruling issued on July 9, 2026, Judge Leon denied the Government's motion to dismiss and granted Mashatti's motion for summary judgment. The court found that the termination of Mashatti's SEVIS record was arbitrary and capricious, stating, "The Government has not provided any satisfactory explanation for why it terminated plaintiff's SEVIS record based on a 2022 driving-under-the-influence charge that never resulted in a conviction." Judge Leon emphasized that the termination was not supported by federal regulations, as Mashatti was never convicted of a crime.
The ruling is significant for international students in the U.S., as it reinforces their rights to due process and fair treatment by immigration authorities. The court's decision also indicates that ICE must provide adequate justification for terminating a student's SEVIS record, particularly when it is based on criminal history that does not lead to a conviction.
Moving forward, this ruling may set a precedent for other similar cases involving SEVIS terminations. It highlights the need for immigration enforcement agencies to follow proper procedures and consider the implications of their actions on the lives of international students. The decision could encourage more students to challenge unjust terminations of their SEVIS records, ensuring that their rights are protected.
As for what’s next, the Government may appeal the ruling, but details were not available in the court filing. This case could also influence ongoing discussions about immigration policies and the treatment of international students in the United States.