- Saturday, April 26, 2025
The government informed a court in Boston that it is working on a policy framework for foreign students and will restore the previously terminated legal statuses
By: India Weekly
THE TRUMP administration has provided a breather for hundreds of foreign students whose legal statuses were terminated for minor offenses.
During a court hearing before a federal judge in Boston on Friday (25), it announced that it is restoring the previously terminated legal statuses and is working on a policy framework to govern foreign students.
Many international students have approached various courts across the country to sue the administration for actions taken against them.
The legal statuses of many international students were revoked, putting them at risk of deportation.
Asked how he felt about his legal status reinstatement, one international student who sued the government texted, “relief mostly and still very much anxious about next steps.” He asked not to be named.
Since Trump took office on January 20, records for more than 4,700 students have been removed from Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
The database, maintained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), monitors compliance with visa terms and records foreign students’ addresses, progress toward graduation and other information.
To remain in the database, student visa holders have to obey conditions such as limits on employment and avoiding illegal activity.
University groups said the cancellations would scare foreign students, who are a source of global talent and contributed $44 billion to the US economy last year.
In court filings, the administration had said that it could end students’ eligibility to be in the US if they, for example, turn up in a criminal history search.
Shortly before a Friday hearing, US District Judge F. Dennis Saylor said he had received an email from a lawyer from the government alerting him to a change in position by ICE.
According to that email, ICE was now “developing a policy that will provide a framework for SEVIS record terminations.”
Until that policy is issued, the SEVIS records for students contesting the case will remain active or will be restored, the email said.
