US court reinstates visa for Nigerian doctoral student after sudden revocation

A surprise immigration setback that threatened to derail a Nigerian scholar’s career has been overturned, after a federal judge ruled in favour of Matthew Ariwoola, a fourth‑year chemistry PhD candidate and instructor at the University of South Carolina.

Ariwoola learned on 8 April 2025 that his F‑1 student status had been stripped from the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), immediately barring him from his research and teaching duties. The record listed the termination reason as “OTHER – Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked,” even though Ariwoola has no criminal history.

With help from the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina, Ariwoola sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, citing violations of the Fifth Amendment’s due‑process protections 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 18 April, the court issued a 14‑day temporary restraining order blocking any attempt to detain or remove Ariwoola. SEVIS quietly reactivated his status a week later, but federal lawyers still asked the court to set the case aside. The judge refused, extending emergency protections several times.

The legal momentum culminated on 13 June, when the court granted a preliminary injunction that allows Ariwoola to resume laboratory work and classroom teaching while the case proceeds. “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.”

Ariwoola, who hopes his research will advance drug‑development techniques and inspire future scientists, is now back on campus while the lawsuit continues.

(PM NEWS)