Suguru Onda’s student visa revoked at Brigham Young University

Key Takeaways

• Suguru Onda’s student visa was revoked due to minor infractions, including traffic and dismissed fishing citations.
• An automated Homeland Security system triggered Onda’s visa cancellation with no human review or chance for appeal.
• Over 800 international students have lost visas nationwide for similarly minor violations flagged by automated systems.

Suguru Onda, a Japanese student who has been studying for his PhD at Brigham Young University 🇺🇸, recently found out that his student visa was revoked. The news came as a shock, not only to Onda but also to his family, who have built their lives in Utah over the past six years. This report will walk you through the details of Onda’s situation, explain how and why it happened, and put it in the larger context of United States 🇺🇸 student visa rules and the risks international students now face. The story reveals much about how sudden changes in immigration enforcement can disrupt lives and careers, even over very minor legal matters.

What Happened to Suguru Onda?

Suguru Onda has lived in Utah for six years, working towards a PhD in computer science at Brigham Young University 🇺🇸. He’s also a husband and the father of five young children. According to Onda, everything seemed to be going well with his studies and his life in the United States 🇺🇸. But without warning, he received a notice that his student visa had been canceled and he had to leave the United States 🇺🇸 within weeks.

Onda’s student visa allowed him to legally study and live in the United States 🇺🇸. Without it, he cannot stay. If he does not leave, he could be deported and possibly banned from the United States 🇺🇸 in the future.

Why Was His Visa Revoked?

The cancellation appears to be based on very minor legal problems:

• Two speeding tickets
• A fishing citation in 2019

The fishing citation happened because Onda organized a gathering where more fish were caught than the law allowed. However, the court later dismissed this case. Onda never had to admit guilt, and it did not result in a conviction.

Despite this, Onda received an official letter from immigration authorities saying he had “otherwise failed to maintain status.” This phrase is often used when someone has broken visa rules, but the only reason mentioned in his case was that his name showed up in a “criminal records check.”

Suguru Onda and his lawyer argue that the issues found—traffic tickets and a dismissed fishing situation—are very minor. There was no crime such as theft or violence. He had never been in real trouble with the law.

How Was the Decision Made?

Here’s what makes Onda’s case stand out: a computer system, not a human, flagged his record. His lawyer, Adam Crayk, explained that the Department of Homeland Security 🇺🇸 uses an automated program (sometimes called a “bot”) to search for anything that looks like a criminal record, big or small. If the program finds something, it can trigger an automatic visa cancellation.

This means that even if the problem was only a traffic ticket or a case dismissed by court, and even if it happened years ago, the computer could still mark it as “criminal conduct.” No one checked the facts by hand. No one asked for Onda’s explanation before the order to leave was sent out.

According to Adam Crayk, “We’re stripping away due process, which is fundamentally unjust.” In simpler words, people are being ordered out of the country without having a fair chance to speak up.

Lack of Explanation or Chance to Respond

Onda was not given any warning or chance to explain his side. He told reporters that he felt shocked and helpless. “I think it’s unfair … They should notify us or reach out to us,” he said. After six years of building a life and working towards a doctorate, Onda now worries about his family’s future.

Brigham Young University 🇺🇸 has supported Onda as he tries to fight the visa cancellation. The school has experience working with international students on visa matters, but the way this decision was made—automatic and final—is a challenge for even experienced university officials.

A Trend Affecting Hundreds of Students

Onda is not the only one facing this problem. Reports show that at least 800 international students around the United States 🇺🇸 have had their visas canceled in a similar way recently. The main reason is that an automated system goes through old records and flags anything that resembles a criminal event—even if it’s just something like a traffic ticket or a fishing citation that was dismissed. There is often no way for students to give more details or to prove the issue wasn’t serious.

Adam Crayk and other immigration lawyers say this is a new development. In the past, only serious crimes could make a student lose their visa. For example, crimes like theft, assault, or large-scale fraud. Also, until recently, a person would have a chance to answer questions, talk with an official, and sometimes appeal a decision if they felt it was wrong.

Now, even old, small mistakes that have already been handled by the courts can lead to immediate visa loss because of the computer search. The lack of human review means students do not get a fair hearing.

Impact on Families, Universities, and Local Leaders

Suguru Onda’s case has caused concern in Utah and beyond. Governor Spencer Cox has asked for more information from federal leaders about why so many student visas are being canceled. Local universities are worried, too, because many international students face sudden and unpredictable threats to their ability to finish their studies.

VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that other universities across the country are also seeing similar cases. Many fear that more students will be impacted, hurting both families and schools that depend on international researchers and students. Losing hundreds of students in this way could affect research programs, class sizes, and the cultural life of campuses.

A Quick Look at the Policy Change

Here is how student visa enforcement has changed:

As you can see, even if you have only minor offenses, you can lose your visa now. For example, having a traffic violation years ago—or even a case that was thrown out in court—can still be flagged as a reason for visa cancellation. This is because the system only notices that your name shows up, not whether your case was serious or not.

Legal Battles and Hope for Change

Adam Crayk, Onda’s attorney, is preparing to take legal action to protect his client and other students in the same situation. He says that stripping away the student’s right to a hearing and making decisions by computer is both unfair and possibly illegal. If the case is successful, it could help not just Suguru Onda, but hundreds of students across the United States 🇺🇸.

Some lawmakers have started to pay attention, asking the Department of Homeland Security 🇺🇸 for details on these new visa cancellations. As more students and lawyers speak out, there are hopes that the policy could be revised or that there will be rules requiring human review and the chance to give an explanation before a person loses their visa.

International Student Challenges

The story of Suguru Onda at Brigham Young University 🇺🇸 is a reminder of how tough it can be for international students living in another country. Students on educational visas must follow many rules. Breaking any of them, even a small mistake, can create big problems.

When the process for taking away a visa moves from careful human review to an automatic computer system, it becomes much easier to make mistakes and much harder to fix them.

What Should You Know If You’re an International Student in the United States 🇺🇸?

• Check Your Record: Even old, minor offenses can cause trouble. Make sure your records are clear and ask a lawyer if you’re not sure.
• Know Your Rights: Usually, if your visa is being canceled, you have a right to an explanation. Right now, you may not get that unless you ask or fight for it.
• Act Fast: If you get a visa cancellation notice, contact a lawyer right away. Time is usually short.
• Ask for Help: Your school’s international office and other groups may be able to support you, too.

Students and universities can find official information and guidance on student visas, including rights, responsibilities, and changes to the laws, at the U.S. Department of State’s student visa page.

How Does This Affect the United States 🇺🇸 and the World?

The problems experienced by Suguru Onda and hundreds of other international students have effects that go far beyond just one family or one campus.

First, many universities in the United States 🇺🇸 depend on international students for their research labs, science, and technology programs, like the one Onda was part of at Brigham Young University 🇺🇸. These students bring new ideas and help American colleges stay among the best in the world. Losing them because of sudden rule changes can hurt education, the economy, and the development of new tech.

Second, the United States 🇺🇸’s reputation as a place that welcomes students from other countries could suffer. When international students feel they could be sent home over a speeding ticket—even one from years ago—they may decide not to come to the United States 🇺🇸 at all. Other countries, like Canada 🇨🇦 and Australia 🇦🇺, may look like safer places to go for study.

Finally, not having a fair process for visa problems can hurt the basic idea of justice. Most people agree that everyone should have a chance to explain themselves before losing their spot in school, their ability to work, or their home in a new country.

Real People, Real Lives

Suguru Onda’s story is one of hundreds, but it has already touched many people in Utah and in the national conversation about immigration rules. He says he feels it’s unfair that something so minor could threaten the life he’s built with his family. “They should notify us or reach out to us,” he repeated, wanting only a chance to explain before such a big decision was made.

Governor Spencer Cox and other leaders are echoing these concerns and asking the government for answers. As legal cases begin, it’s possible that courts or Congress will need to step in to bring back the right to due process and make sure that computer programs alone do not decide people’s futures.

Final Thoughts

The case of Suguru Onda at Brigham Young University 🇺🇸 shows how small mistakes, automatic decisions, and a lack of communication can have big effects on international students and their families. The sudden wave of student visa cancellations has left many people feeling vulnerable and afraid, not only in Utah but all around the United States 🇺🇸.

As legal challenges continue and more stories emerge, there may be changes to the rules so people have the chance to be heard and explain their situation. For now, international students, families, and schools will be watching closely—hoping for a fairer, more careful approach to student visa decisions in the near future.

Learn Today

Student Visa → A legal document allowing international students to study and live temporarily in the United States for educational purposes.
Criminal Records Check → A background search done by authorities to find any legal violations or criminal activity associated with an individual.
Due Process → The legal right to a fair hearing or procedure before the government takes action affecting a person’s rights.
Automated Program → Computer software used to scan records and make decisions without direct human involvement or review.
Visa Revocation → The official cancellation of a visa, forcing the holder to leave the United States immediately.

This Article in a Nutshell

Suguru Onda, a Japanese PhD student at BYU, lost his student visa after minor offenses triggered an automated system review. Hundreds face similar issues, highlighting the sudden shift in U.S. immigration policy. Now, even minor or dismissed offenses can mean losing your visa without warning or a chance to explain.
— By VisaVerge.com

Read more:

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• Official Government Forms for Visas, Immigration, and Travel
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• Utah sees visas revoked for nearly 50 international students
• Chinmay Deore’s visa under scrutiny at Wayne State University