The Trump administration announced on Friday (25) that it will restore student visa records for potentially thousands of foreign students in the United States, whose legal status was abruptly terminated, and many without apparent justification.
The decision was announced during a court hearing before a federal judge in Boston, who was hearing the challenge from one of the many international students suing the government over its actions.
The status of these students was revoked due to the removal of their records from a database with approximately 1.1 million foreign student visa holders, putting them at risk of deportation.
Since Trump took office on January 20, records of more than 4,700 students have been removed from the database maintained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
The database monitors compliance with visa terms and records the addresses of foreign students, progress in their studies, and other information. To remain in the database, student visa holders must comply with conditions such as employment restrictions and avoiding illegal activities.
Just before Friday’s hearing in the case of Boston University student Carrie Zheng, U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor said he had received an email from a government attorney alerting him to a change in ICE’s stance.
According to the email, ICE was “developing a policy that will provide a framework for SEVIS record terminations.” Until that policy is issued, Zheng’s SEVIS record and those of similarly situated plaintiffs will remain active or be restored, according to the email.
Source: Reuters