ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico ruled in favor of "K.O.D.," a Ghanaian doctoral student at New Mexico Tech who challenged the abrupt termination of his F-1 student status without explanation. The court granted the temporary restraining order requested by K.O.D.'s legal team, allowing him to maintain his academic standing while his case proceeds.
The ruling comes just two days after K.O.D. filed an emergency lawsuit against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico and Huffman, Wallace & Monagle LLC represent K.O.D. in the case.
"Today's ruling reaffirms that every person within our borders, regardless of where they were born, deserves to be protected from arbitrary actions by the U.S. government," said Shayne Huffman, with Huffman, Wallace & Monagle LLC. "The court has recognized that K.O.D., like other international students, cannot simply have his status terminated without notice or explanation. K.O.D. can now continue his doctoral research without the immediate threat of detention or deportation hanging over his head."
The court’s ruling emphasized that the government's sudden termination of K.O.D’s status on April 9, 2025, was likely arbitrary and presented a risk of irreparable harm warranting immediate relief.
"Today's ruling sends a clear message that the government cannot arbitrarily target international students,” said Rebecca Sheff, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of New Mexico. “This is an important first step toward justice for K.O.D. and potentially hundreds of other international students facing similar situations."
While no individual should be subjected to this type of arbitrary action, it is particularly unclear why K.O.D. was targeted. K.O.D. has maintained a spotless record with no criminal history or even traffic violations during his time in the United States.
There are approximately 2,000 international students in New Mexico's universities who contribute significantly to research, teaching, and the state's economy.
The lawsuit will continue as K.O.D. and his legal team seek permanent relief.
