Cynderila Patrick, a graduate of Youngstown State University in Ohio, has filed a lawsuit against U.S. President Donald Trump after her student visa was revoked.
The 36-year-old Nigerian citizen is challenging the decision, arguing that it jeopardizes her educational investments.
In a lawsuit filed on Wednesday through her attorney, Rhys Cartwright-Jones, Patrick claims that the revocation of her student visa threatens her future prospects and her ability to work in the U.S. after earning a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 2024.
Patrick’s visa was revoked on April 8, part of a broader U.S. government initiative to revoke student visas, especially for international students accused of minor offenses, including traffic violations.
According to sources, the U.S. government has been using such violations to cancel foreign students’ visas at California campuses.
Living in Maryland, Patrick explained that she needed her student visa in order to secure a work permit in the U.S.
She had also enrolled in the U.S. education system with the goal of building a professional career in the country.
The lawsuit, reported by Cleveland.com, seeks a “temporary, preliminary, and permanent order” to have her visa reinstated.
It also argued that her due process rights were violated and that she was not informed of the reasons behind the revocation.
Attorney Rhys Cartwright-Jones stated in the lawsuit, “This disruption will severely hinder her ability to gain professional experience in the United States, undermine the educational investment she has made, and place her at a competitive disadvantage in her field.”
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi in Akron, Ohio.
Reports indicate that at least 61 student visas in Ohio, including 14 from YSU, and over 1,000 visas nationwide have been revoked as part of the same crackdown under President Trump.
Patrick, who began her studies at YSU in 2022, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Intel in 2023 for students pursuing careers in technology.
She was also actively involved in the National Society of Black Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers.
