Trump Abruptly Walks Back Student Visa Cancellations. Here’s What We Know

Following weeks of legal battles, student demonstrations, and increasing pressure from universities and federal judges, the Trump Administration has backtracked on a broad effort that put the legal status of thousands of international students in the United States at risk. The Department of Justice announced on Friday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will restore the immigration records of international students whose student visa information was abruptly terminated, often due to minor legal issues that were dismissed. This decision represents another step back by an Administration that has focused on strict immigration enforcement in its second term.

The sudden mass terminations earlier this month, affecting around 4,700 students according to the American Immigration Law Association, caused upheaval on campuses nationwide. Students were left in legal uncertainty as their data in the SEVIS system was erased, leaving them potentially without legal status in the country and facing detention or deportation. Some were unable to attend classes or use campus services, while others were detained or had to leave the country voluntarily.

Judges in 23 states issued emergency orders blocking the government’s actions, criticizing the move as arbitrary, unclear, and possibly illegal. More than 100 lawsuits were filed by students, universities, and advocacy groups, arguing that the terminations violated due process and unfairly targeted students.

The Administration’s reversal came shortly before ICE officials were set to testify in court. A Justice Department attorney stated in court that ICE is working on a policy that will guide SEVIS record terminations, signaling a temporary pause on revoking records based solely on past legal encounters.

The situation remains uncertain for many impacted students, like Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil, whose cases are entangled in broader debates on national security and foreign policy. ICE still has the authority to terminate records for national security reasons or other immigration law violations, despite the reversal concerning minor or dismissed legal issues. The State Department, which also revoked many student visas, has not clarified if those cancellations are being reversed.

The move to terminate student visas on such a large scale has raised questions about ICE’s increasing control on campuses, a departure from the traditional role of universities informing SEVIS of status changes. Critics view this crackdown as part of a larger effort to pressure universities to align with Administration priorities, potentially limiting political dissent. The actions have drawn parallels to post-9/11 surveillance of Muslim students and scholars, now with digital tools in play.