In Dong et al. v. Johnson et al., on January 10, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey granted preliminary approval for a class-action settlement covering all noncitizens who enrolled in the University of Northern New Jersey. UNNJ was a fictitious university created by DHS Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) federal agents in 2013. This settlement will reverse harm suffered by many of the foreign nationals who were enrolled in UNNJ. This will limit the circumstances under which a class member can be found inadmissible or deportable for fraud in connection with UNNJ. The settlement will also help to eliminate any unlawful presence that the class members would have accrued by virtue of their enrollment in the fictitious university. Those members will be considered in lawful status and will be able to apply for immigration benefits. The settlement directs DHS to move to dismiss removal proceedings against those class members who were enrolled in UNNJ.
Vijay Bhagwati, Esq.
Founder and Managing Partner
