The international student community has breathed a sigh of relief following the recent restoration of legal status for thousands of students after the Trump administration’s crackdown on their ability to remain in the United States. However, while the restoration of their SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) records offers temporary reprieve, it remains uncertain how long this relief will last, as U.S. authorities are likely to implement a more robust framework for future SEVIS record terminations.
Two key developments have unfolded in the aftermath of widespread visa revocations affecting international students. First, the Trump administration reversed its decision, restoring the legal status of many students by reactivating their SEVIS records. Second, U.S. authorities indicated plans to create a clearer policy framework to regulate SEVIS record terminations moving forward.
The issue first came to light when numerous international students discovered their SEVIS records had been deleted, which rendered them technically no longer legally present in the U.S. and at risk of detention and deportation. As a result, several students filed court proceedings seeking temporary restraining orders (TRO) to challenge the actions. Carrie Zheng, a student at Boston University, was one of the plaintiffs involved in such legal action.
During court proceedings, U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor revealed he had been informed by a government lawyer that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had altered its position. According to the email sent to the court, ICE was in the process of developing a policy that would establish a framework for SEVIS record terminations. Until that policy is finalized, the SEVIS records of Zheng and other affected students would remain active or be restored.
The U.S. Department of Justice later clarified in a court filing that both students who sued the government and those who did not were among those whose SEVIS records were reinstated.
The root cause of many of these record terminations was tied to criminal records checks. Government officials explained that the widespread visa revocations stemmed from a search of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), which flagged several students for offenses ranging from underage drinking to illegal driving or even overfishing. Some students were flagged despite having no criminal history at all. According to court documents, affected students were categorized as “OTHER—Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked.”
The filing also clarified that ICE would not alter records based solely on the NCIC findings that had led to the recent SEVIS terminations.
As of Friday morning, more than 1,840 students and recent graduates from over 280 colleges and universities had reported changes to their SEVIS records, according to Inside Higher Ed. It remains unclear how many of these records will be restored and what the timeline for these restorations will be.
A statement from Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, clarified that while ICE had not reversed its decision to revoke visas, it had restored SEVIS access to students whose visas had not been revoked. The department also emphasized that the temporary restoration of SEVIS records did not equate to the restoration of canceled visas.
The Trump administration’s policy update further clarified that the revocation of an F-1 visa does not automatically result in the termination of student status under the SEVIS system. A revoked visa permits the student to continue their studies in the U.S., but if the student leaves the country, their SEVIS record is terminated, and they must reapply for a new visa before returning.
Despite these updates, confusion remains regarding the F-1 visa revocation and the restoration of SEVIS records. While SEVIS records for some students have been reinstated, those whose visas have been revoked may still need to reapply for a visa if they leave the U.S. or plan to return.
None of the relevant U.S. authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, or USCIS, have yet issued formal communication on the court’s ruling regarding the restoration of SEVIS records, but such a statement may be issued in the coming days. The ongoing uncertainty around these issues continues to create concern for international students navigating the complexities of U.S. immigration policy.
