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Federal Lawsuits Challenge Trump Administration's Revocation of International Student Visas

Courts issue temporary orders reinstating student statuses as legal battles intensify over visa cancellations and SEVIS terminations.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Washburn Shops building is seen May 23, 2015, in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Students walk on the first day of fall classes at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, on August 18, 2021.
The Department of Homeland Security seal on the podium on August 21, 2019 in Washington, DC.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, along with members of other federal law enforcement agencies, attend a pre-enforcement meeting in Chicago on January 26.

Overview

  • Over 1,000 international students have had their visas or SEVIS statuses revoked, with many citing minor infractions or alleged political activism as reasons.
  • Two large-scale federal lawsuits, including one seeking class-action certification, argue the government unlawfully terminated students' legal status without due process.
  • A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order requiring the reinstatement of affected students' SEVIS records while litigation continues.
  • The Trump administration cites national security and Executive Order 14188, which uses AI to monitor activism, as justification for the revocations, raising concerns over free speech and civil rights.
  • Universities and foreign governments, particularly India, are advocating for affected students, emphasizing the need for transparency and procedural fairness.