Lalit K Jha
Washington DC, April 29, 2025
The Trump Administration reversed its recent termination of student visas on April 26, 2025, a move that relieved thousands of students from India, which sent the largest number of foreign students to the US.
In a federal court filing, Assistant US Attorney Mark Sauter said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is going to restore student records to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
SEVIS gives the Department of Homeland Security information about international students.
Distress Calls
“It is heartening to hear some good news on the student front, after a tough few weeks, with thousands of students suddenly losing status,” Prasanthi Reddy, eminent immigration attorney, told 5wh after the Department of Justice announced that it would restore the visa registrations of thousands of foreign students studying in the US.
“Thanks to the pushback from the legal community with litigation and reinstatement filings, the Govt seems to have reversed course for now,” Reddy said.
Over the past few weeks, Reddy and the immigration attorneys were flooded with distress calls from Indian students whose visas were revoked for even minor reasons like a parking ticket.
The terminations had resulted in a large-scale panic among students. Many students are still dealing with the financial and emotional effects of their visa terminations even as they are in the midst of their studies. American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) who were assisting international students on this issue welcomed the decision of ICE.
“The new ICE policy announcement regarding the reinstatement of international students’ records in SEVIS in response to dozens of lawsuits filed across the country is welcome news. The agency vexatiously overstepped when it revoked student records in SEVIS without, what appears to be, going through the proper vetting channels,” AILA President Kelli Stump said.
A collective sigh of relief
“Across the country and the world, students, universities, and attorneys are breathing a collective sigh of relief today and at least for now. It is a sad reality that this administration’s chaotic policies are the new normal. As we move forward, it is crucial to continue to address and rectify these harms and other similar threats to ensure that such overreach does not happen again,” Stump said.
Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said the Trump Administration’s reversal of unlawful actions to terminate the status of thousands of student visa holders is overdue.
“While it remains to be seen if all these student visas will be restored, these students should never have had their status terminated, to begin with, and the terminations continue to have very serious consequences for students, universities, and the future of our country to attract talent to study here,” she said.
Jayapal said that Trump’s reversal – in the face of multiple lawsuits and enormous pressure – is a clear admission that these actions against students were never about national security, but rather about using immigration enforcement as a weapon to restrict due process, stifle political dissent, and attack legal immigration.
“It is also a clear signal that organising, lawsuits and public pressure are critically important to challenge the Administration’s continuously unlawful actions. It is time to stop weaponising enforcement and prioritise the humanity, dignity, and legal rights of all people. That is both the moral and lawful thing to do and also what is best for America’s ability to remain a country that attracts talent from all over the world,” she said.
A temporary reprieve?
Senator Richard Blumenthal said the Trump Administration’s pause of its cruel, draconian student visa policy is a relief but maybe only a temporary reprieve.
“President Trump may be only repackaging or rebranding this illegal visa revocation practice so we must continue the court challenges and legislative fight for due process. The students caught in the middle of the Trump Administration’s cruel web have endured weeks of uncertainty and fear. The world’s brightest minds will not bring their talents to our universities when they risk arbitrary removal at any moment,” Blumenthal said.
Last week, Blumenthal wrote to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons, demanding an explanation for the Trump Administration’s seemingly arbitrary revocation of hundreds of student visas nationwide.
In a statement AILA said, the scope of the restoration of their SEVIS status is not clear.
“However, some students whose SEVIS records were restored had filed litigation, while others had not. Some reports include students who had prior infractions and arrest histories who also had their SEVIS status restored,” it said.
AILA said it has not received reports of SEVIS restoration for individuals whose SEVIS records were terminated for political protest. No formal announcement has been made by ICE. Members learned of these restorations from their clients or university officials, it said.
AILA recommended that students affirmatively reach out to their Designated School Officials (DSOs) to check if their SEVIS record, including their OPT (where applicable), has been restored and is accurate.
“If the record is not accurate, the DSO should request a correction (‘data fix’) through the SEVP Response Centre (SRC). There have not been corollary reports of revoked visas being reinstated, although that is not expected. An international student whose visa has been revoked, but whose SEVIS record was restored, would likely need to reapply for a visa if they leave or have left the United States before returning,” AILA said.
