Case: Balusu v. Trump

2:25-cv-00419 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

Filed Date: April 18, 2025

Closed Date: April 29, 2025

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Case Summary

This case is one of numerous lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s abrupt termination of immigration visas—mostly student or work visas—with no notice to the visa-holders and with dubious or no legal basis. You can see all of the cases here. (This summary is temporary, while we research the case.) On April 18, 2025, an international student—attending school on an F-1 visa--filed this lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against President Donald…

This case is one of numerous lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s abrupt termination of immigration visas—mostly student or work visas—with no notice to the visa-holders and with dubious or no legal basis. You can see all of the cases here.

(This summary is temporary, while we research the case.) On April 18, 2025, an international student—attending school on an F-1 visa--filed this lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against President Donald Trump, the Department of Homeland Security and its Secretary, and various officials at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In early April, the Defendants abruptly terminated the Plaintiff’s, and other international students’, F-1 visa and records with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information (SEVIS), effectively stripping them of their ability to remain a student in the United States. The Plaintiff alleged that Defendants' actions were unlawful and designed to coerce them and other international students into abandoning their studies and self-deporting. The Plaintiff alleged that Defendants’ actions violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the Fifth Amendment.

Summary Authors

Scott Shuchart (5/23/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69919547/parties/d-b-v-trump/


Judge(s)

Watson, Michael H. (Ohio)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Ricker, Eric Dennis (Ohio)

Shihab, Ghassan M (Ohio)

Attorney for Defendant

Stark, John J. (Ohio)

Yates, Christopher R (Ohio)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

2:25-cv-00419

Complaint

D. B. v. Trump

April 18, 2025

April 18, 2025

Complaint
2

2:25-cv-00419

Motion for Temporary Restraining Order

D. B. v. Trump

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

Pleading / Motion / Brief
6

2:25-cv-00419

Opinion and Order

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Order/Opinion
15

2:25-cv-00419

Stipulation of Dismissal

April 28, 2025

April 28, 2025

Other

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69919547/d-b-v-trump/

Last updated Aug. 21, 2025, 6:56 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants, filed by D. B.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet) (Shihab, Ghassan) Modified filed date on 4/21/2025 (er). (Entered: 04/21/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

April 18, 2025

April 18, 2025

Clearinghouse

Filing fee for cv action: $ 405.00, receipt number AOHSDC-10470813. (er)

April 18, 2025

April 18, 2025

PACER
2

First MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order by Plaintiff D. B.. (Shihab, Ghassan) (Entered: 04/21/2025)

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

Clearinghouse
3

NOTICE by Plaintiff D. B. re 2 First MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order (Shihab, Ghassan) (Entered: 04/21/2025)

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

PACER
4

Notice by Clerk of Southern District of Ohio of Pro Hac Vice Rules as to Attorney Eric Dennis Ricker. (er) (Entered: 04/21/2025)

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

PACER

Filing Fee Received

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

PACER
5

NOTICE of Appearance by Christopher R Yates for Defendants Andrew Davis, Kristi Noem, Kika Scott, Donald J. Trump, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Yates, Christopher) (Entered: 04/22/2025)

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

PACER

Notice of Hearing

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

PACER

Status Conference

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

PACER

NOTICE of Hearing - Status Conference set for 4/22/2025 at 2:00 p.m. in Courtroom 120 - Columbus before Judge Michael H. Watson. (jk)

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

PACER

Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Michael H. Watson: Status Conference held on 4/22/2025. (Court Reporter: Lahana DuFour) (jk)

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

PACER
6

OPINION and ORDER granting 2 Motion for TRO. Status Conference set for 4/28/2025 at 1:00 p.m. in Courtroom 120 - Columbus before Judge Michael H. Watson. Signed by Judge Michael H. Watson on 4/23/2025. (jk) (Entered: 04/23/2025)

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Clearinghouse
7

First MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Filing fee of $200 paid, receipt number AOHSDC-10477040) of Eric Dennis Ricker by Plaintiff D. B.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing) (Shihab, Ghassan) (Entered: 04/23/2025)

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

PACER
8

Summons Issued as to Andrew Davis, Kristi Noem, Kika Scott, Donald J. Trump, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (kaw) (Entered: 04/23/2025)

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

PACER
9

CERTIFICATE of mailing by Clerk. (kaw) (Entered: 04/23/2025)

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

PACER
10

NOTATION ORDER granting 7 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Eric Dennis Ricker as co-counsel. Co-counsel is directed to register for e-filing through PACER unless they have done so previously. Signed by Magistrate Judge Chelsey M. Vascura on April 24, 2025. (jlk) (Entered: 04/24/2025)

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

PACER
11

NOTICE by Plaintiff D. B. (Shihab, Ghassan) (Entered: 04/24/2025)

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

RECAP
12

NOTICE of Appearance by John J. Stark for Defendants Andrew Davis, Kristi Noem, Kika Scott, Donald J. Trump, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Stark, John) (Entered: 04/24/2025)

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

PACER
13

NOTICE by Defendants Andrew Davis, Kristi Noem, Kika Scott, Donald J. Trump, U.S. Department of Homeland Security re 6 Order on Motion for TRO of Compliance Pursuant to Opinion and Order (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, April 24 Email to Plaintiff's counsel) (Stark, John) (Entered: 04/25/2025)

1 Exhibit A, April 24 Email to Plaintiff's counsel

View on PACER

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

RECAP
14

NOTICE by Defendants Andrew Davis, Kristi Noem, Kika Scott, Donald J. Trump, U.S. Department of Homeland Security re 13 Notice (Other), Declaration of Andrew Watson 4/25/2025 (Stark, John) (Entered: 04/25/2025)

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

RECAP
15

STIPULATION of Dismissal by Defendants Andrew Davis, Kristi Noem, Kika Scott, Donald J. Trump, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (Yates, Christopher) (Entered: 04/28/2025)

April 28, 2025

April 28, 2025

RECAP

Status Conference

April 28, 2025

April 28, 2025

PACER

Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Michael H. Watson: Status Conference held on 4/28/2025. (Court Reporter: Lahana DuFour) (jk)

April 28, 2025

April 28, 2025

PACER

***Civil Case Terminated. (kaw)

April 28, 2025

April 28, 2025

PACER

Terminate Civil Case

April 29, 2025

April 29, 2025

PACER
16

SUMMONS Returned Executed as to Defendant Andrew Davis. (kaw) (Entered: 05/16/2025)

May 15, 2025

May 15, 2025

PACER
17

SUMMONS Returned Executed as to Defendant Kika Scott. (kaw) (Entered: 05/16/2025)

May 15, 2025

May 15, 2025

PACER
18

SUMMONS Returned Executed as to Defendant U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (er) (Entered: 05/29/2025)

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Ohio

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump 1.0 & 2.0 Immigration Enforcement Order Challenges

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government (Immigration Enforcement)

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government (Visa revocation)

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 18, 2025

Closing Date: April 29, 2025

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Student in OPT work period under F-1 visa

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Department of Homeland Security (- United States (national) -), Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Voluntary Dismissal

Issues

Immigration/Border:

Visas - criteria

Visas - procedures