New details on why SVSU student from India may have had student visa revoked

SAGINAW, MI. (WJRT) – The attorney for a Saginaw Valley State University student whose visa has been revoked, speaking to ABC12 tonight about what his client is going through.

It’s happening across the country.

College students who have been in the United States on student visas, having their visas revoked.

Some students are being deported because the government says they took part in pro-Palestinian protests.

It’s not entirely clear on why the student SVSU has had her visa revoked.

But we do know she has been attending SVSU since July 2023.

In February, she received a ticket from Saginaw Police and her attorney believes that’s the reason her student visa has been revoked.

“My client is a young woman from India who is here on an academic or student visa, she is studying to earn her master’s degree,” says attorney Nathan Collison.

He is talking about a 23 year old Saginaw Valley State University student, whose future is now in limbo.

We are not identifying her, but she was in a Saginaw County courtroom on Monday.

Court papers indicate she was issued a ticket and arrested in February, accused of yelling at and interfering with a Saginaw police officer who was arresting the driver of the car she was a passenger in.

The man was being arrested for an outstanding warrant concerning an unpaid fine in Midland County.

Saginaw County assistant prosecutor Don Cline explained the student received an email last week from the U.S. Embassy in India saying her visa was revoked. Cline read from the email in court.

“Visa office informs you that additional information became available after your visa was issued, where they are now revoking it, it doesn’t say why,” Cline said during the hearing.

ABC12 News has received a copy of that email. It says in part, “Remaining in the United States without a lawful immigration status can result in fines, detention, and/or deportation. Please note that deportation can take place at a time that does not allow the person being deported to secure possessions or conclude affairs in the United States. Persons being deported may be sent to countries other than their countries of origin.”

The ticket for resisting was dismissed, but Collison says his client now faces deportation.

“She wasn’t just scared, she was very, very upset. The entire investment that she has so far in travel expenses, living expenses and her tuition is over $40,000,” says Collison.

Collison believes the student’s visa is being revoked because of the ticket for resisting. 

“In this country you are innocent until proven guilty. In this case she was given notice of her revocation of her visa prior to being convicted of any crime at all,” says Collison.

SVSU has released a statement saying the school did not receive any notification of the status change for the student.

It is asking the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program for information for the termination of the student’s visa.