A federal judge has temporarily halted the deportation of a Tufts University PhD student who was recently arrested in Boston, pausing the Trump administration’s efforts to remove the individual pending further legal review.
The student, whose identity has not been officially disclosed, was taken into custody earlier this month as part of a broader immigration enforcement operation. The arrest prompted immediate legal action from the student’s attorneys, who argued that the deportation would violate due process and disrupt years of academic work.
The judge issued a temporary restraining order, effectively blocking Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from proceeding with removal while the court evaluates the legal arguments. In issuing the decision, the court cited the need to examine whether the student’s rights under current immigration law and constitutional protections had been fully respected.
Court documents indicate that the student had been in the U.S. on a valid visa, actively enrolled in a doctoral program at Tufts. However, immigration authorities allege that the individual had violated the terms of their visa, which led to the enforcement action.
The case has gained attention among academic institutions and civil rights groups, many of which argue that students in good standing should be protected from abrupt deportation—particularly when no criminal charges have been filed. Tufts University officials have not commented on the ongoing legal proceedings but confirmed the student is enrolled and remains in good academic standing.
The ruling does not resolve the case but ensures that the student will remain in the U.S. for the time being. Further hearings are expected to determine the long-term outcome, including whether the deportation order will be upheld, modified, or dismissed.
Legal experts say the case could set an important precedent regarding how immigration laws are applied to international students at U.S. academic institutions during heightened enforcement periods.