Matthew Ariwoola, a Nigerian doctoral student and instructor at the University of South Carolina (USC), has secured a significant legal victory after the sudden termination of his student visa left him facing potential arrest and deportation.
Ariwoola, who is in his fourth year of a PhD programme in chemistry, was informed on April 8, 2025, that he could no longer continue his studies or teaching duties.
University staff cited an abrupt revocation of his immigration status in the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), with no prior warning or detailed explanation.
The termination, logged as OTHER – Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked, came as a shock. Ariwoola has no criminal record, not even a traffic violation.
Represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of South Carolina, Ariwoola challenged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arguing that the decision violated his Fifth Amendment right to due process and the Administrative Procedure Act.
This student was given no opportunity to defend himself, no explanation, and no hearing, said a spokesperson for the ACLU. He was denied the most basic fairness under the law.
On April 18, a federal judge issued a temporary 14-day restraining order against DHS and ICE, effectively halting any attempt to detain or deport Ariwoola.
A week later, his F-1 status was quietly reactivated in SEVIS without any official explanation from the authorities.
Despite a government request to suspend the legal proceedings, the court rejected the motion and extended the restraining order multiple times.
On June 13, in a strong rebuke to DHS, the court granted a preliminary injunction, allowing Ariwoola to resume his academic work and reinforcing the likelihood that he will ultimately prevail in the case.
This ruling is a crucial step toward justice for Mr. Ariwoola, the ACLU stated. It also underscores the need for transparency and fairness in immigration enforcement.
The case remains ongoing, but for now, Ariwoola is back in the lab and classroom, pursuing his goal of improving drug therapies and mentoring the next generation of scientists.
