Indian graduate student's visa revoked over four-year-old traffic conviction, files legal challenge
Apr 7, 2025·Location: Rapid City, SD
Country of origin: India

Priya Saxena, an Indian graduate student at South Dakota Mines, received notification on April 7, 2025 that her visa was revoked as part of a Trump administration criminal records check of international students. The revocation was triggered by a misdemeanor traffic conviction from 2021 for failing to pull over for an emergency vehicle in Meade County; a related DUI charge from the same traffic stop was dismissed after her blood alcohol tested within the legal limit. Saxena had previously disclosed these legal matters when obtaining her most recent visa in 2022. She filed a temporary restraining order against the government seeking a court order to remain in the country after completing her master's and doctoral degrees at the institution.
Timeline
Sources
- International student recounts ‘numb’ feeling after receiving email about her potential deportation
newscenter1.tv·May 14, 2025·archived copy
siouxfallslive.com·May 14, 2025·archived copy
- southdakotasearchlight.com
- International Student Recounts ‘numb’ Feeling After Receiving Email About Potential Deportation | Aberdeen Insider
aberdeeninsider.com·May 17, 2025·archived copy
- rapidcityjournal.com
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