A United States federal court has halted the deportation of Nigerian student, Matthew Ariwoola, a PhD Chemistry candidate at the University of South Carolina, after authorities wrongly linked him to a criminal case in a state he claims never to have visited.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had revoked Ariwoola’s student visa on April 8, 2025, citing a 2023 criminal warrant from the state of Georgia. Ariwoola, who has maintained his innocence and insisted he has never stepped foot in Georgia, was immediately barred from attending classes, suspended from his research work, and placed under imminent threat of deportation.

In response, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of South Carolina filed a lawsuit on Ariwoola’s behalf. On April 18—the same day the suit was filed—District Judge Jacquelyn Austin issued a 14-day temporary restraining order blocking the deportation and reinstating Ariwoola’s student privileges.

The DHS later reversed its decision and reinstated his visa in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the federal database that monitors international students. Judge Austin would go on to extend the restraining order three more times.

On June 13, Judge Austin issued a preliminary injunction, a more lasting protection, barring federal authorities from proceeding with deportation until the case is resolved. In her ruling, the court affirmed jurisdiction and found that Ariwoola’s case met the legal threshold for constitutional scrutiny, raising legitimate concerns about due process and administrative overreach.

Reacting to the ruling, Ariwoola expressed relief and gratitude:

“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 as part of a broader discourse around the Trump administration’s hardline immigration stance. Since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Donald Trump has intensified deportation efforts, with international students often caught in the crackdown.