United States Temporarily Restores Status of International Students
The United States has temporarily reinstated the immigration status of thousands of international students after their records were deleted from the SEVIS system. The decision was announced on April 25 during a hearing in Washington and was presented by the Department of Justice as a relief measure while a new case review system is implemented.
Records to Be Provisionally Restored
Department of Justice attorney Joseph F. Carilli explained that the deleted records would be provisionally restored. This will allow students to maintain their legal status during the individual review of each case. However, authorities made it clear that this measure does not permanently reverse prior cancellations. Visas could still be revoked again in the future.
Also Read: “H-2B Visa Cap Reached for Returning Workers in the Second Half of Fiscal Year 2025”
Growing Concern Among Students
The decision comes after weeks of rising concern. Over 1,500 visas were recently canceled, often without clear explanations. The situation has led to multiple lawsuits across the country, with some courts issuing injunctions to block actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Spokespersons from the Department of Homeland Security clarified that this action does not represent a full reversal of the revocations. Only students whose visas were not officially annulled have had their SEVIS access restored. Despite this, some students had already left the country out of fear of detention or deportation.
Attorneys Point to Irregularities
Immigration experts believe the recent decisions reflect a recognition of possible errors in the record cancellations. They also warned about the negative impact on the academic and professional lives of the affected students.
Cases Tied to Political Protests
The issue has gained further attention due to new lawsuits, including class actions and cases linked to student participation in political protests. Some judges have halted deportations, particularly in cases involving the exercise of free speech rights.
Uncertainty Remains
While the temporary restoration of legal status provides some relief, legal proceedings are ongoing. The government is still reviewing its immigration policies and databases. For now, thousands of international students face an uncertain future, with no clear guarantees about their academic standing in the United States.
From: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/25/us/politics/trump-student-visa-cancellations.html
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