A federal court in the United States has temporarily blocked the deportation of Matthew Ariwoola, a Nigerian PhD chemistry student at the University of South Carolina.
The ruling followed a controversial move by the Department of Homeland Security, DHS, which revoked Ariwoola’s student visa due to a mistaken identity linked to a 2023 criminal warrant issued in Georgia, a state Ariwoola insists he has never visited.
The visa revocation on April 8, 2025, disrupted his academic journey. He was barred from attending classes, suspended from research activities, and faced imminent deportation.
READ ALSO: US resumes student visas, adds social media rule
To protect his education and legal status, Ariwoola sought help from the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU, of South Carolina. The organization swiftly filed a lawsuit challenging DHS’s decision.
On April 18 the same day the lawsuit was filed District Judge Jacquelyn Austin granted a 14-day temporary restraining order, halting deportation proceedings and restoring Ariwoola’s student privileges.
The ruling allowed Ariwoola to resume his studies and indicated that the court saw merit in his legal challenge. Shortly after, Homeland Security reinstated his visa in SEVIS, the federal database tracking international students.
Judge Austin extended the restraining order three more times in the following weeks. On June 13, she issued a preliminary injunction preventing the federal government from taking further action against Ariwoola until the case is fully resolved.
In her decision, Judge Austin confirmed the court’s jurisdiction and held that the case raised a legitimate constitutional issue, meeting all legal standards required for the injunction.
For Ariwoola, the decision represents more than a legal victory, it’s a sign of hope.
“This victory, though temporary, is a huge source of hope for international students who are unfairly targeted,” he said. “I’m especially thankful to the ACLU-SC and the court for ensuring that justice prevails. I hope this encourages others to speak up and fight back.”
His case has drawn national attention amid increasing concern over the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies. Since returning to office in January 2025, the administration has intensified efforts to deport undocumented immigrants, with foreign students increasingly caught in the crossfire.
For now, Ariwoola remains in the U.S., continuing both his academic work and his fight for justice.
NEWSEXPRESSNG
