Minnesota
Two international Minnesota college students granted temporary relief over loss of legal status
Minnesota international students suing over the loss of their legal status are seeing their first wins in court.
The legal victory is temporary but significant, as international students fight to complete their education in the U.S.
Attorney David Wilson represents two clients who recently saw a victory in the courtroom in the form of a temporary restraining order.
“At this point, they are relieved that their court has seen the value of their case and their challenge to what has happened to them,” Wilson said.
Ziliang Jin, an international student from China pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Minnesota, had his legal status terminated on April 8.
He believes it’s because of his traffic citations.
“A minor infraction is not a break in one’s status,” Wilson said.
In a letter to the court, Jin said, “Ever since I found out that ICE terminated my SEVIS, I’ve been consumed by fear and anxiety.”
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan granted him relief, stating, “The court finds that plaintiff faces irreparable harm.”
This comes just days after Metropolitan State University nursing student Rattanand Ratsantiboon was granted the same relief.
According to court documents, Ratsantiboon has two prior driving convictions, including a third-degree DWI in 2018.
In his affidavit, he pleaded to the court to let him finish his semester at school after paying more than $7,000.
“If I’m not able to complete this semester, all this money, time and energy will have been lost,” he wrote.
Wilson says this is more than a legal win, but a temporary lifeline
“We are happy that the court is taking this first step — it’s one of many steps that’s going to happen — but at this point, it’s at least providing some assurance to students who are coming forward,” Wilson said.
Hearings are scheduled in both cases, where the court will decide whether the temporary relief will be extended.
Another international student in Minnesota, Dogukan Gunaydin, who was arrested by ICE last month, at least until his next hearing scheduled for May 6.
Minnesota
AJR Brings Their Catchy Pop Hits To The Minnesota State Fair in 2026
ST. PAUL (WJON News) — A multiplatinum indie pop trio will grace the stage of the Great Minnesota Get Together this summer. AJR will hit the stage at the Minnesota State Fair on Wednesday, September 2nd. The trio has generated billions of streams and four platinum singles, along with being one of the 500 most listened to artists on Spotify.
AJR will be joined by Quinn XCII (92) and Avery Cochrane. Quinn XCII (92) blends pop, alternative, and genre-bending storytelling and has garnered multiple platinum singles like “Straightjacket.” Tickets for AJR go on sale at 10:00 a.m. on Friday.
9 grandstand shows have now been announced for the 2026 state fair.
AJR joins Bonnie Raitt, “Weird” Al Yankovic, Sierra Ferrell, Tommy James & The Shondells with special guest Herman Hermit’s Peter Noone, Rod Stewart with Richard Marx, Brad Paisley, and the It’s Iconic tour with TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue as acts announced for the 2026 state fair.
Minnesota State Fair
READ MORE FROM AUTHOR PAUL HABSTRITT
2025 Minnesota State Fair
The Great Minnesota Get Together is a rite of passage, and the first sign that summer is coming to an end. 2025 saw perfect weather for the entire 12-day run of the Minnesota State Fair.
Gallery Credit: Paul Habstritt
Kansas and Jefferson Starship at The Ledge
Two classic rock legends in Kansas and Jefferson Starship brought down the house at the Ledge Amphitheater in 2025.
Gallery Credit: Paul Habstritt
Turnpike Troubadours at the Ledge
The American Country Band Turnpike Troubadours took the stage at the Ledge Amphitheater in Waite Park with their “Wild America” tour and special guest Old Crow Medicine Show.
Gallery Credit: Paul Habstritt
Minnesota
What a University of Minnesota grad has done for space exploration
Minnesota
Minnesota county is investigating potential kidnapping and false imprisonment by federal officers
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota officials are planning to investigate the actions of federal law enforcement officers in one county, potentially including a kidnapping, burglary and false imprisonment.
Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Sheriff Bob Fletcher said they planned to release more details about the investigation at a news conference later Monday. Ramsey County includes the state capital of St. Paul.
Choi and Fletcher said they will pursue information they need for the investigation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The department has refused so far to cooperate with other state and local investigations into the killings by federal officers of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
The news conference announcement did not specify which incident is being investigated, but the county’s chief prosecutor and sheriff said they would ask the public for information about this and other incidents.
The state and the chief prosecutor in Hennepin County, which includes Minneapolis, sued the Trump administration last month to gain access to evidence they say they need to independently investigate three shootings by federal officers in Minneapolis, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
The lawsuit accuses the federal government of reneging on its promise to cooperate with state investigations after the surge of around 3,000 federal law enforcement officers into Minnesota.
Minnesota and Hennepin County have also appealed to the public to share information about federal officers’ potentially illegal activities, given the refusal by federal authorities to provide evidence.
The Trump administration has suggested Minnesota officials don’t have jurisdiction to investigate those cases. State and county prosecutors say they need to conduct their own inquiries because they don’t trust the federal government.
The Justice Department in January said it was opening a federal civil rights investigation into Pretti’s killing, and two officers have been placed on leave, but the agency said a similar federal probe was not warranted in Good’s death.
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