How an alleged AI mistake nearly cost a Japanese student his US visa

By Phan Anh April 24, 2025 | 01:15 am PT

Suguru Onda, a graduate student at Brigham Young University, the U.S. Photo courtesy of Suguru Onda

A Japanese doctoral student at Brigham Young University had his U.S. visa abruptly revoked, allegedly because of an AI mistake.

Suguru Onda, a father of five, discovered earlier this month that his visa status was suddenly canceled. Authorities claimed he had been "identified in criminal records" or had previously had his visa revoked, The Independent reported.

However, his attorney Adam Crayk clarified that Onda's record only included minor infractions such as speeding tickets and a fishing violation for organizing an event where participants exceeded fishing limits.

His visa status was restored just minutes after Onda and other affected students filed a lawsuit alleging unjust cancellation without warning or clear justification.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it would not elaborate on Onda's case over "privacy concerns and visa confidentiality," NBC News reported.

Officials might not have reviewed the names flagged by AI software thoroughly, Crayk suspected.

NBC News reported that DHS had formed a task force leveraging data analytics and AI to review social media and other records of international students.

While a DHS official stated the department regularly audits visa compliance, specifics about Onda's case remain undisclosed due to privacy and confidentiality policies.