In a dramatic reversal, United States President Donald Trump’s administration has backed away from its decision to revoke the visas of hundreds of foreign students, a move which had triggered widespread panic across the country.
The announcement came after more than a hundred lawsuits were filed by affected students, challenging the abrupt cancellations.
Elizabeth Kurlan, a lawyer for the US Department of Justice, informed a federal court that all visa cancellations would be reviewed prior to enforcement. Immigration authorities are now developing a new procedure to reassess the cases.
The initial move by the Trump administration impacted approximately 1,800 students and involved 280 universities, causing chaos and uncertainty within academic institutions.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier warned that the status of students deemed contrary to American interests would be revoked, a declaration that sent ripples of fear through universities nationwide. Some students, overwhelmed by the uncertainty, even opted to leave the United States voluntarily.
The Department of Justice told the court that students’ records would once again be maintained in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the platform that monitors compliance with visa regulations among international students.
However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will retain the authority to cancel SEVIS records if students are found guilty of any misconduct or violations.
Professor Elora Mukherjee of Columbia Law School commented, “For many, this is a welcome relief, but for those whose records remain cancelled, the battle is far from over.”
