MILLCREEK, Utah — A BYU student who is one of dozens attending school in Utah and who had their visa revoked over the last few weeks had it restored it Friday after filing a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security.
Suguru Onda spoke to FOX 13 News on Thursday about how he is earning his PhD at BYU, only to learn his visa was revoked and his student registration was terminated.
Onda, a father of five, was told he'd have to leave the country within two weeks. His lawyer, Adam Crayk, said something was flagged after a criminal record review, but claims the only thing that came up on Onda was two speeding tickets and a fishing violation.
On Friday, Crayk said Onda's visa had been restored after Onda and others filed a lawsuit, along with the American Civil Liberties Union, that challenged deportation orders. Crayk said the visa restoration came just over 30 minutes after the lawsuit was filed.
Several Millcreek families also recently received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security saying they needed to leave the U.S.
Marcy Matheson is a neighbor of one of the families.
“I was driving with her in the car, and she just told me a really bad thing happened today and told me about this letter that she got. And I was just appalled," Matheson shared. "I was just appalled that something like this could happen,” she said.
Attorney Jim McConkie is representing the family who the country from Venezuela legally for safety reasons.
“If you're going to kick somebody out and change their life, you've got to tell them why," said McConkie, "and then they have to have the opportunity to present their side of the story."
