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Original Date Announced
April 4, 2025Press reports and numerous lawsuits indicate that DHS is revoking visas and terminating status of many students for reasons unrelated to campus protests or speech activity. Inside Higher Ed is regularly tracking student visa revocations (those with and without allegations of campus activism) here.
The Associated Press reports "the government apparently has widened its crackdown" and is now revoking residency status for students who have no connection to pro-Palestinian protests. Officials from colleges around the country have discovered international students have had their entry visas revoked and, in many cases, their legal residency status terminated by authorities without notice." The basis for termination is often unclear, although some have allegedly had their status revoked "over misdemeanor crimes or traffic infractions."
AP explains that in the past, a student whose entry visa was revoked could keep living and studying in the United States, but would "need to renew their visa if they left the U.S. and wanted to return." Typically, a university was notified when a student's visa was revoked. Now, however, "increasing numbers of students are having their legal status terminated exposing them to the risk of being arrested," and DHS is not communicating with universities re termination decisions.
"Students stripped of their entry visas are receiving orders from the Department of Homeland Security to leave the country immediately," and there are some reported incidents of students being detained by immigration authorities. Students at Arizona State, Cornell, North Carolina State, the University of Oregon, the University of Texas, the University of Colorado, the University of Alabama, and Tufts University have been affected.
Trump 2.0 [ID #1666]
2025.04.04 Reported: Federal officials are quietly terminating the legal residency of some international college students - Associated PressEffective Date
April 4, 2025Subsequent Trump and Court Action(s)
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March 30, 2025
2025.03.30 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus - Gunaydin v. Trump
Dogukan Gunaydin, a graduate student from Turkey attending the University of Minnesota, filed a writ of habeas corpus to challenge the legality of his detention. Gunaydin was arrested by ICE on March 28 and had his visa revoked hours later. According to reporting by the New York Times, DHS has alleged that Gunaydin was arrested in connection with a 2023 DUI case in which he pleaded guilty—not due to participation in campus activism. Gunaydin v. Trump, No. 0:25-cv-01151 (D. Minn.).
**Litigation entries are limited to initial complaints and major substantive rulings. For pleadings and additional information, use name and docket number to search Civil Rights Clearinghouse and CourtListener or visit Just Security Litigation Tracker**
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April 5, 2025
2025.04.05 Reported: Foreign students are quietly being pushed out of the US without reason or process - Economic Times
The Economic Times reports that ICE has started cancelling foreign student visas at universities across the country "without any formal communication from federal authorities. Many institutions are only finding out after students receive alarming emails stating their SEVIS [Student and Exchange Visitor Information System] records have been revoked."
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April 5, 2025
20205.04.05 Reported: Trump administration cancels dozens of international student visas at University of California, Stanford - Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times reports that "dozens of international students attending several California universities have had their visas revoked by the Trump administration." The Times notes that UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla stated that the university received the terminations "without warning . . . Khosla said a sixth student was “detained at the border, denied entry and deported to their home country.” A statement by the University of California school system stated that they are “aware that international students across several of our campuses have been impacted by recent SEVIS terminations."
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April 5, 2025
2025.04.05 Complaint - Student Doe 1 v. Noem
An international student who was on an F-1 visa filed suit after their SEVIS status was terminated and visa revoked. The lawsuit argues that the SEVIS termination violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the Fifth Amendment’s due process guarantee. Student Doe 1 v. Noem, No. 5:25-cv-00847 (C.D. Cal.).
**See litigation note above**
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April 7, 2025
2025.04.07 - Complaint - C.S. v. Noem
An international student attending school in Pennsylvania on an F-1 visa filed a class action complaint alleging that the termination of C.S.'s SEVIS record was arbitrary and capricious, not in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and applicable law, and failed to provide C.S. with notice and opportunity to be heard. According to the complaint, "DHS terminated C.S.'s SEVIS record based on a criminal records check" based upon an expunged arrested for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness for which the district attorney dropped all charges.
The proposed class would include "all student visa holders within the United States whose SEVIS records have been terminated by DHS based on criminal records checks showing only charges that do not interfere with the students' 'normal progress toward completion of a course of study,'" citing 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(f)(5), which provides that such students are "considered to be maintaining status." C.S. requests an injunction requiring DHS to reinstate the SEVIS records of the proposed class members. C.S. v. Noem, No. 2:25-cv-00477 (W.D. Pa.).
**See litigation note above**
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April 7, 2025
2025.04.07 Reported: Nearly 300 Students Have Had Visas Revoked and Could Face Deportation - New York Times
The New York Times reports that "[n]early 300 international students were abruptly stripped of their ability to stay in the United States in recent days, according to universities and media reports."
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April 9, 2025
2025.04.10 Complaint - Doe v. Noem
On April 9, 2025, a doctoral student from China who is studying at the University of Washington sued DHS for revoking terminating his SEVIS access based on a pending DUI charge. The lawsuit alleges that the government's acts were arbitrary, and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act and the Fifth Amendment's Due Process requirements. The complaint states that, "[n]othing in these regulations authorizes termination based solely on an arrest without a conviction or a mere allegation of wrongdoing." Doe v. Noem, Case No: 2:25-cv-00633 (W.D. Wash.).
**See litigation note above**
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April 10, 2025
2025.04.10 Complaint - Deore v. DHS
Four international students at Michigan universities filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security after their F-1 student status terminated under SEVIS without sufficient notice or explanation. The reason given for termination in SEVIS was, "Individual indentified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked." None of the plaintiffs have ever been charged with or convicted of any crime in the United States. The complaint alleges that the terminations failed to comply with 8 C.F.R. § 214.1(d) and violated the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause and the Administrative Procedure Act. Deore v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Security, 2:25-cv-11038, (E.D. Mich.).
**See litigation note above**
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April 14, 2025
2025.04.14 Declaration of Andre Watson - Deore v. DHS
Andre Watson, assistant director of the national security division for Homeland Security Investigations, filed a declaration in support of the government's response to the plaintiffs motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction. In the declaration, on pg. 5, Watson stated that "terminating a record in SEVIS does not terminate an individual's nonimmigrant status in the United States." Deore v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Security, 2:25-cv-11038, (E.D. Mich.).
**See litigation note above**
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April 15, 2025
2025.04.15 Complaint - Liu et al. v. Noem et al.
The ACLU of Indiana filed a lawsuit against DHS on behalf of seven international students whose lawful status was terminated without explanation. The complaint asserts that, "Plaintiffs were in compliance with the terms of their F-1 status and have not engaged in any conduct justifying termination of that status." Plaintiffs argue that DHS violated the students' Fifth Amendment due process rights, and failed to comply with the Administrative Procedure Act because its action was both arbitrary and capricious and an abuse of discretion. The ACLU of Indiana has requested a temporary restraining order to protect the students. Liu et al. v. Noem et al., no. 1:25-cv-716 (S.D. Ind.)
**See litigation note above**
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April 15, 2025
2025.04.15 Complaint - Villar Castellanos v. Noem
Four international students from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley challenged the termination of their SEVIS statuses and asked the court to restore their statuses. According to reporting by MyRGV, the lawsuit alleges that the students were "in full compliance with the terms of their status" and "had not engaged in conduct that would result in the termination of that status." Villar Castellanos v. Noem, No. 1:25-cv-00080 (S.D. Tex.).
**See litigation note above**
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April 18, 2025
2025.04.18 Order Granting TRO - Jane Doe 1 v. Bondi
Judge Victoria Calvert of the Northern District of Georgia issued a TRO enjoining the Defendants from terminating SEVIS records and ordering the agencies to restore their student statuses and SEVIS authorization. Judge Calvert found the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits of their APA claims that the terminations of SEVIS records and of F-1 status violated 8 C.F.R. § 214.1(d), were arbitrary and capricious, and violated procedural requirements. Jane Doe 1 v. Bondi, No. 1:25-cv-01998-VMC (N.D. Ga.)
**See litigation note above**
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April 24, 2025
2025.04.24 Complaint - Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education et al. v. Bondi et al.
The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and five unnamed students filed a federal lawsuit in the Massachusetts District Court challenging the Trump administration’s decision to terminate international students' SEVIS records. The complaint alleges the terminations violate federal regulations, the Administrative Procedure Act, and students' Fifth Amendment due process rights. The suit asks the Court to declare the policy unlawful, cancel improper SEVIS terminations, enjoin DHS from making future terminations at member schools, immediately restore affected students' SEVIS records, and stay the policy while the case is litigated. Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education v. Bondi, No. 1:25-cv-111 (D. Mass.)
**Litigation entries are limited to initial complaints and major substantive rulings. For pleadings and additional information, use name and docket number to search Civil Rights Clearinghouse and CourtListener or visit Just Security Litigation Tracker**
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April 25, 2025
2025.04.25 ICE Written Statement reversing foreign student visa policy
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sauter notified the federal court that ICE leadership sent him the following notice: "ICE is developing a policy that will provide a framework for SEVIS record terminations. Until such a policy is issued, the SEVIS records for plaintiff(s) in this case (and other similarly situated plaintiffs) will remain Active or shall be re-activated if not currently active and ICE will not modify the record solely based on the NCIC finding that resulted in the recent SEVIS record termination."
**See litigation note above**
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April 25, 2025
2025.04.25 Reported: U.S. Restores Legal Status for Many International Students, but Warns of Removals to Come - NYT
The New York Times reports on ICE's decision to restore SEVIS status for international students. DOJ informed a federal judge during an April 25 hearing that "student records that had been purged from [SEVIS] in recent weeks would be restored, along with their legal status." ICE reserves the authority to terminate SEVIS status and indicates that is has "begun work on a new system for reviewing and terminating the records of international students and academics studying in the United States."
According to the Times, a senior DHS official said the students whose legal status was restored on Friday could still very well have it terminated in the future, along with their visas. Similarly, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin stated that the administration has "not reversed course on a single visa revocation," but rather "restore[d] SEVIS access for people who had not had their visa revoked."
The government has already moved to dismiss lawsuits over the SEVIS deletions, arguing that they are now moot because of the administration's policy change.
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April 26, 2025
2025.04.28 DHS - SEVIS Notice - Policy Regarding Termination of Records
Court records from Arizona Student DOE 2 v. Trump, No. 4:25-cv-00175 (D. Ariz.) show that DHS sent SEVP personnel notice of a new policy regarding SEVIS records terminations. The policy explains that a student’s SEVIS record could be terminated for various reasons, including “several normal, administrative reasons,” and that “termination does not always result in an adverse impact on the student.”
The policy focuses on two specific reasons for which a SEVIS record may be terminated: (1) failure to comply with terms of nonimmigrant status and (2) visa revocation by DOS. According to the policy, when SEVP has “objective evidence that a nonimmigrant visa holder is no longer complying with the terms of their nonimmigrant status for any reason, then the SEVIS record may be terminated on that basis.” ICE then has discretion to investigate further or initiate removal proceedings pursuant to INA § 237(a)(1)(C)(i). Additionally, in cases where DOS has revoked a noncitizen’s visa, SEVP “may terminate the nonimmigrant’s SEVIS record based on the visa revocation with immediate effect.”
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April 30, 2025
2025.04.30 Reported: Trump administration reveals how it targeted thousands of international students on visas
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials told NBC News that DHS used ten to twenty employees over the course of two to three weeks to run the names of 1.3 million foreign-born students through the National Crime Information Center in what was termed the "Student Criminal Alien Initiative." Roughly 3,000 students had their visas revoked. The State Department then instructed DHS to terminate the students’ SEVIS records.
View Document
Current Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: In LitigationTrump Administration Action: Change in PracticeSubject Matter: Non-Immigrant Visas: StudentAssociated or Derivative Policies
Documents
Trump-Era Policy Documents
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
Complaint - Student Doe 1 v. Noem
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
Complaint - C.S. v. Noem
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
Complaint - Doe v. Noem
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
2025.04.10 Complaint - Deore v. DHS
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
2025.04.14 Declaration of Andre Watson - Deore v. DHS
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
Complaint - Liu et al. v. Noem et al.
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
Complaint - Villar Castellanos v. Noem
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
2025.04.18 TRO - Jane Doe 1 v. Bondi
- Subsequent Action
- Subsequent Action
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
DHS - SEVIS Notice - Policy Regarding Termination of Records
To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com
To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com
Commentary
2025.03.31 Minnesota Student Detained by ICE Was Not an Activist, Lawsuit Says - New York Times
The New York Times describes Gunaydin's arrest and lawsuit, and explains how the detention and deportation of visa holders over misdemeanors such as drunken driving would constitute an escalation of enforcement policies.
Go to article2025.04.07 AILA - Practice Alert: SEVIS Records of International Students Being Terminated by ICE
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) publishes a practice alert outlining options available for attorneys of international student clients who had their SEVIS records terminated.
Go to article2025.04.08 AILA - Policy Brief: Immigration Enforcement Actions Against International Students
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) explains how student visas differ from other nonimmigrant visa types, the legal pathways to revoking and terminating a student visa, and the due process protections that are available.
Go to article2025.04.10 Trump appears to be targeting Muslim and “non-white” students for deportation - The Intercept
The Intercept reports that attorney attestations and new lawsuits show that a large number of international students targeted by the Trump Administration for deportation were "from Muslim-majority countries or other countries in Asia and Africa." The article also notes that immigration officials have gone after those "with minor infractions or misdemeanors on their record, or, for others, no criminal history at all." Furthermore, it highlights that the attempted deportations “appea[r] to be designed to coerce students . . . into abandoning their studies and ‘self-deporting’ despite not violating their status.”
Go to article2025.04.17 AILA - Policy Brief: The Scope of Immigration Enforcement Actions Against International Students
AILA provides an analysis of data collected from over 300 reports of visa revocations and SEVIS terminations.
Go to article2025.04.21 Reported: Judge Slams Homeland Security Over Revoked Student Visas: 'Clearly is BS' - Newsweek
Newsweek reports that during a hearing in Deore v. DHS, Judge Ana Reyes of the District Court for the District of Columbia "openly criticized federal attorneys for creating a legal scenario so convoluted that no one--not the student's lawyers, the court, or even the government--could confirm whether the student was in the country illegally." She challenged the agency’s claim that terminating a student's SEVIS record does not impact immigration status, and ordered Andre Watson, assistant director of the national security division of HSI, to testify on the matter.
Go to article2025.05.02 ICE Expands Student Deportation Powers - Inside Higher Ed
Inside Higher Ed discusses the implications of the April 26, 2025 policy, explaining how it “vastly expands federal officials’ authority to terminate students’ legal residency status.”
Go to article