Filed Date: May 2, 2025
Closed Date: Jan. 8, 2026
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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.
On May 2, 2025, a noncitizen filed this petition for writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota relating to his placement in removal proceedings following rescission of his F1 student visa, allegedly based on his participation in a protest against police violence. The petitioner sought release and an emergency temporary restraining order to prevent Defendants from removing him from the District of Minnesota. The case was assigned to District Judge Katherine M. Menendez.
On May 5, Judge Menendez ordered that the petitioner not be removed from the District of Minnesota pending decision on his pending motion for a temporary restraining order.
On May 14, 2025, the court issued an order mandating the immediate release of the petitioner. While the government cited a minor misdemeanor conviction as the basis for petitioners’ detention, the court found evidence suggesting this was a pretext for First Amendment violations. The court specifically found that the government intentionally targeted and detained students who engaged in protected speech, noting that others with similar criminal records were not detained. Ultimately, the court determined that it held jurisdiction over the matter and granted the habeas corpus petition because the detention was unconstitutionally motivated by viewpoint discrimination.The following day, the court issued a final judgment granting the habeas petition. 2025 WL 1420131.
The defendants appealed the court’s decision granting the habeas petition on July 11, 2025 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
On October 23, 2025, while briefing was pending, the defendants filed a motion to hold the appeal in abeyance due to the lapse in appropriations stemming from the 2025 government shutdown. The court granted the motion the same day. On November 18, 2025, in light of the end of the government shutdown, the court ordered briefing to resume.
The defendants filed a motion for vacatur and dismissal of the appeal on December 8, 2025. They argued that the appeal was moot because the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) issued a final order affirming the petitioner’s release on a $5,000 bond, which resolved the legal dispute regarding his detention. Because this decision precluded DHS from re-detaining the petitioner during his pending removal proceedings, the DOJ argued there was no longer a live controversy and it was impossible for the court to grant any effectual relief. Furthermore, the DOJ alleged that because the case became moot through "happenstance" rather than a voluntary settlement, the district court's order should be vacated to clear the path for future litigation and allow the parties to litigate on a "clean slate."
On January 8, 2026, the Eighth Circuit entered judgment dismissing the appeal and vacating the district court’s order mandating the release of the petitioner. The appellate court found that the appeal was mooted by the BIA’s issuance of a final order affirming the petitioner’s release on bond.
Summary Authors
Scott Shuchart (5/9/2025)
Sofia Yoder (4/7/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70075063/parties/harsono-v-trump/
Attorney, Ana H. (Minnesota)
Cardin, Zachary Aaron (Minnesota)
Casper, Benjamin (Minnesota)
Chan, Linus (Minnesota)
Gad, Sarah (Minnesota)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70075063/harsono-v-trump/
Last updated April 15, 2026, 4:13 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump 1.0 & 2.0 Immigration Enforcement Order Challenges
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: May 2, 2025
Closing Date: Jan. 8, 2026
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Detained noncitizen whose F1 student visa was revoked
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
County
Kandiyohi County Sheriff
Federal
Department of Justice
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Habeas Corpus, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241-2253; 2254; 2255
Other Dockets:
District of Minnesota 0:25-cv-01976
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit 25-02413
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Granted:
Preliminary injunction / Temp. restraining order
Source of Relief:
Content of Injunction:
Issues
Immigration/Border:
Case Summary of Harsono v. Trump, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/46565/ (last updated 4/7/2026).