The U.S. government has begun reversing course on a broad immigration enforcement effort that resulted in the termination of legal status for hundreds of international students. The shift follows mounting legal pressure and nationwide lawsuits challenging the actions taken by immigration authorities in recent months.
In federal court proceedings on Friday, government attorneys confirmed that immigration officials are now developing a new policy framework for reviewing and terminating student immigration records in the SEVIS system a database that tracks the status of international students enrolled in U.S. institutions. Officials also stated they would no longer revoke student records solely based on matches in a national criminal database.
Until the new review system is in place, officials have agreed to halt revocations based on those database checks. As of Friday, more than 240 student records had already been reinstated across dozens of universities, with lawyers reporting that clients in multiple states had begun receiving official reinstatement notices.
A Justice Department attorney also indicated that the effort to restore records was being applied broadly, not just to students who had filed legal action. However, the government emphasized that immigration authorities still retain discretion to terminate a student’s status for other violations, such as failing to maintain nonimmigrant status or engaging in unlawful activity.
The legal battle was sparked by a series of sudden visa cancellations and SEVIS terminations earlier this year, which disproportionately impacted students involved in campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Immigration officials had justified many of the status revocations by citing alleged criminal histories—sometimes involving arrests without charges or dismissed cases.
The enforcement campaign caused widespread alarm among international students, with reports of detentions and voluntary departures from the country. Federal judges have since intervened in some cases, issuing orders to prevent deportations and preserve students’ legal standing while lawsuits proceed.
Though the restoration of SEVIS records is likely to bring relief to many students, it does not apply to all. Some individuals such as students whose visas were revoked amid accusations of national security concerns remain outside the scope of the policy shift and are still facing uncertain futures.
For more political updates, visit DC Brief.
