In a significant reversal, the Trump administration has restored the visa records of thousands of international students in the U.S. whose legal immigration status was thrown into limbo after abrupt terminations from a key federal tracking system.

Mass Terminations Reversed Amid Legal Pressure

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will reinstate SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) records for affected students. The decision follows mounting legal pressure, including over 100 lawsuits filed in at least 23 states and dozens of restraining orders issued by federal judges.

These terminations were based largely on minor legal infractions — many of which were dismissed or misdemeanor-level charges. Students impacted by the move feared potential deportation and were often barred from attending classes or completing research, including those just weeks away from graduation.

Judges Deem Actions Arbitrary and Unlawful

Federal judges criticized the administration’s lack of transparency and consistency, with many rulings declaring the terminations “flagrantly illegal.” Several courts had demanded the government clarify whether students still held lawful immigration status or had to leave the country immediately.

The backlash culminated in Friday’s announcement, where a DOJ attorney informed a judge that ICE is halting SEVIS terminations “solely based on” flagged criminal history checks — at least until a formal policy is developed.

ICE Crafting New Policy for SEVIS Terminations

“ICE is developing a policy that will provide a framework for SEVIS record terminations,” the attorney stated in court. “Until such a policy is issued… ICE will not modify the record solely based on the NCIC finding that resulted in the recent SEVIS record termination.”

The Justice Department clarified that ICE still reserves the right to terminate SEVIS records in the future for students who violate immigration rules or commit serious offenses under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

State Department Visa Cancellations Still Unclear

What remains unresolved is whether the U.S. State Department — under Secretary Marco Rubio — will reinstate the actual student visas for those affected. Rubio previously revoked the visas of several students for alleged pro-Palestinian activism, but the broader wave of visa cancellations appears to have included many with minor legal issues, raising further questions about political targeting and due process.

The State Department has yet to confirm whether it will reverse those cancellations.

Key Takeaways:

• Thousands of SEVIS records reinstated after terminations based on minor or dismissed legal infractions.

• ICE to halt further terminations for now and draft a new policy.

• State Department visa cancellations still under review.

• Legal backlash and federal court orders played a crucial role in prompting the reversal.