South Dakota student who earned Ph.D. while DHS tried to deport her over minor traffic violation is granted injunction

An international student in South Dakota, who earned two degrees amid her fight against the Trump administration’s attempt to deport her, has been granted injunction.

An international student in South Dakota, who earned two degrees amid her fight against the Trump administration’s attempt to deport her, has been granted injunction. 

Priya Saxena, who’s from India, received a doctorate in chemical and biological engineering and a master’s in chemical engineering from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology this past weekend. Just over a month ago, Saxena had been notified that her visa and status in the country had been revoked. 

Saxena’s attorney, Jim Leach, told NBC News that her sole infraction was for a failure-to-yield to an emergency vehicle from four years ago, which he described as “the lowest possible traffic offense.”

Saxena, who sued the Trump administration, was granted a temporary restraining order until the end of this week, allowing her to collect her degrees. And on Thursday morning, she was granted a preliminary injunction that keeps the government from attempting to detain or deport her. 

“The rule of law saved an innocent person from unlawful action by this administration,” Leach said. “Dr. Saxena is exactly the kind of person we should want in this country.”