ICE Reverses Student Visa Terminations Amid Legal Challenges

 recent order by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White, who presided over Friday’s hearing in Oakland, has forced federal authorities to reverse the abrupt termination of legal status for hundreds of international students. Judge White had already granted temporary restraining orders (TROs) in some of the eight related lawsuits, increasing pressure on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“They’re trying to argue the court doesn’t need to act now – but they’re only doing this because of Judge White’s order, 1,000%,” said a legal representative involved in the case.

According to data from the National Association of Foreign Student Advisors (NAFSA), over 1,400 students have reported SEVIS terminations so far this year, with nearly 40% of those affected coming from India and China.

Nationwide, more than 70 lawsuits have been filed in 21 states challenging the SEVIS record terminations. Judges have granted TROs in at least 45 of these cases, citing concerns over due process violations and potential breaches of the Administrative Procedure Act.

The U.S. government has now begun reinstating students' legal statuses and is reportedly developing new policies to prevent similar mass terminations in the future.