In a major immigration policy reversal, the Trump administration has announced that it will restore the legal status of thousands of international students whose visas had been abruptly terminated. The decision follows a wave of legal challenges and mounting criticism from universities, students, and advocacy groups across the United States.
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Why Were Thousands of Student Visa Cancellations Initiated?
Earlier this year, the Trump administration moved aggressively to terminate the SEVIS records—Student and Exchange Visitor Information System—of over 4,700 international students. These records are essential for students to maintain their legal status in the U.S. and are used by both government agencies and universities to monitor foreign student activity.
Students learned of the termination of their visas through unexpected emails or text messages. In many cases, there was no prior notice or clear explanation. Some were forced to leave the country immediately, while others suddenly found themselves subject to deportation or detention, with little legal recourse.
According to NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, the government’s actions led to approximately 1,400 visa revocations and triggered more than 100 lawsuits.
What Prompted the Trump Administration to Reverse Course?
On April 25, the Justice Department filed a statement in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts announcing that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would suspend further terminations of SEVIS records. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Sauter wrote that “ICE is developing a policy to terminate SEVIS records, but until that policy is finalized, the records will remain active or be reactivated.”
The announcement came amid mounting legal pressure and several federal lawsuits filed by students whose visas had been revoked without due process. In some cases, students were penalized for minor infractions such as traffic violations; in others, the grounds for termination were unclear or nonexistent.
How Did Legal Challenges Influence the Reversal?
One pivotal case was that of Huadan Zheng, whose SEVIS record remained terminated even as court proceedings unfolded. Her attorney, Brad Banias, noted in a filing that as of 10:45 a.m., her registration was still inactive. However, Chief U.S. Judge Dennis Saylor issued a temporary stay on Zheng’s visa cancellation and set a follow-up hearing for May 6.
In a separate court hearing in Washington, Justice Department attorney Joseph F. Carilli stated that ICE had begun developing a new review process for visa terminations and that “until that process is complete, no further revocations will occur.” Carilli also indicated that the government would file similar policy updates in other legal cases.
What Was the Impact of the Students Visas Cancellations?
The revocations sent shockwaves across university campuses. Dozens of students—especially from China and India—suddenly found their academic futures at risk. Graduate students conducting research and undergraduates preparing for exams were all caught in the crossfire of a policy many deemed abrupt and opaque.
Some students had participated in pro-Palestinian campus protests during the previous year, and the Trump administration had reportedly initiated deportation proceedings against some of them in March. Judges stepped in to halt several of these removals, but not before students experienced intense panic and confusion.
In some instances, students chose to return to their home countries voluntarily, abandoning their academic programs and legal challenges altogether.
What Does It Mean to Terminate a SEVIS Record?
A SEVIS record is the backbone of a foreign student’s legal presence in the United States. Without an active record, students are considered “out of status,” which can lead to automatic visa revocation and deportation.
While ICE has pledged to pause terminations, the agency emphasized in its court filing that “ICE maintains the authority to terminate a SEVIS record for other reasons,” such as if a student is engaged in unlawful activity. This leaves room for interpretation and future action under separate legal justifications.
It’s important to distinguish between revoking a visa and expunging a SEVIS record—while technically different, both can strip a student of their right to stay in the U.S.
For now, many affected students may find relief in the administration’s about-face. But the situation remains fluid. ICE is expected to finalize a formal policy for handling SEVIS terminations in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, students are left waiting—uncertain whether they will be allowed to stay through spring graduation or face new legal hurdles.
A potential class-action lawsuit is being organized in New England, aiming to prevent further mass cancellations and ensure due process for all international students in the country.
