The Trump administration announced Friday it would reverse its termination of legal immigration status for more than 1,200 international students, following a wave of lawsuits and temporary court orders blocking the policy.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is manually reinstating affected records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a government attorney disclosed during federal court hearings in California and Washington, D.C.
The agency’s abrupt terminations, which began in late March, suspended the visa compliance status of students nationwide, prompting multiple lawsuits. Federal judges issued temporary restraining orders halting the practice after students argued the move threatened their ability to study and work in the U.S. SEVIS, the system tracking international students’ visa adherence, had flagged terminations based on National Crime Information Center (NCIC) data, an FBI-managed law enforcement database.
In a statement provided to media by plaintiffs’ attorney Brian Green, the government said ICE is developing a formal policy to guide future SEVIS terminations. Until then, records for students involved in the litigation and others similarly affected will remain or be restored to “active” status. “ICE will not modify the record solely based on the NCIC finding that resulted in the recent SEVIS record termination,” the statement read.
The reversal underscores the legal and logistical complexities of immigration enforcement tied to criminal databases. While ICE has not detailed the specific NCIC criteria triggering the terminations, advocates noted that even minor infractions, such as unresolved traffic tickets, can appear in the system. Over 1,200 students reportedly lost status since March, though the total figure remains unclear.
The policy shift highlights the vulnerability of international students to abrupt immigration changes. Legal experts stress that SEVIS terminations can immediately invalidate visas, forcing students to depart the U.S. or face deportation. Universities and advocacy groups have long criticized the lack of transparency in such enforcement actions, which often lack avenues for appeal.
This case mirrors broader tensions over the Trump administration’s immigration policies, which have prioritized stricter enforcement but faced repeated judicial pushback. While the immediate crisis for affected students has eased, the lack of a permanent policy leaves uncertainty. The outcome also raises questions about the interplay between law enforcement databases and non-criminal immigration systems, a friction point likely to persist beyond this administration.
As ICE works to reactivate records, students remain in limbo, with some unable to work, enroll in classes, or renew visas until their status is fully restored. The episode serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between national security protocols and the rights of foreign nationals contributing to U.S. academic and economic landscapes.
