In a significant policy reversal, the Trump administration has restored US visas for hundreds of international students whose legal status had been abruptly terminated by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A government attorney informed a federal court in Oakland that ICE is manually reactivating SEVIS records—the official student visa monitoring system—after students were wrongfully flagged due to FBI background checks through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).
Sudden Termination Shocked Students & Schools
The terminations, which took many by surprise, were discovered by universities only during routine database checks or after hearing from other affected students. No prior warning or notice was given, leaving many students in legal limbo and fearing deportation.
“ICE is developing a policy that will provide a framework for SEVIS record terminations,” the government said in a court statement, adding that until the policy is formalized, records will remain active or be reactivated.
Judges and Lawyers Step In
Following a wave of lawsuits, judges across the US issued temporary orders to reinstate affected students’ records. Brian Green, the attorney for one such case, said the government assured the court that the restoration would apply to all impacted students, not just those who filed legal challenges.
A similar update was also issued in a separate Washington case, with ICE confirming that no records will be altered solely based on NCIC data until a clear policy is in place.
What is SEVIS and Why Were Records Affected?
SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is the federal tracking system for international students in the US. The recent terminations were triggered by criminal record checks via NCIC, even though many students had no actual criminal history. The confusion raised alarms across US campuses and within the immigrant community.
What’s Next for Affected Students?
With SEVIS records now being reactivated, students can resume their studies and visa status without the fear of deportation. The announcement marks a positive turn for international students and institutions calling for more transparency and fairness in immigration enforcement.
