In a significant turn of events, at least 50 international students in Washington and Oregon have had their immigration status restored after a series of abrupt removals from a federal database.
This decision follows substantial legal pressure, including dozens of lawsuits and court restraining orders, as the Justice Department reversed its stance on the issue.
Earlier this month, visa revocations began impacting thousands of international students across the country.
According to reports, all three students from Portland State University whose visas were revoked have now regained their status.
Furthermore, the University of Oregon has confirmed that three out of its four affected students had their visas reinstated, while the remaining student has found alternative ways to stay legally in the U.S.
Oregon State University similarly noted progress, with at least seven of the 13 students whose visas were canceled having had them restored, and importantly, none have faced disenrollment due to these cancellations.
Initially, officials from the State Department suggested that the students were in violation of the law, potentially facing arrest, deportation, or other legal consequences.
However, advocates and lawyers pointed out that many of these students found their names in law enforcement databases due to their status as crime victims or their cooperation with investigations.
In many cases, the legal charges that supposedly warranted the visa revocations were dismissed, adding to the confusion surrounding their immigration status.
The overarching concern fell on the chaotic impact that removing these students’ legal status had on their educational pursuits.
The director of international student and scholar services at Washington State University, Kate Hellmann, underscored the turmoil that affected students faced, as they were left without legal standing in the U.S.
Attorney Jay Gairson, representing several students across Washington universities, reported that two students had already been disenrolled due to the visa removals.
At least one student left the country without securing legal representation out of fear and confusion following the status erasure.
Gairson attributed the Justice Department’s reversal to the overwhelming number of lawsuits filed against the administration, signaling a pushback against the removals.
Despite the reinstatement of many visas, Gairson raised concerns for those students who missed critical academic milestones, such as the current quarter or semester.
As a result, some may find themselves in a position where they must seek further reinstatement of their immigration status in light of falling below the required credit hours.
Schools have indicated that they would attempt to offer accommodations for these students, including participation in global studies programs, but it remains uncertain whether this would extend to every affected individual.
There are fears that the situation could lead to misplaced blame directed toward students and universities, rather than addressing the federal government’s apparent mismanagement of the immigration rules and communication.
“People depend on the government being accurate and consistent in what it tells people the rules are,” Gairson noted, criticizing the shifting landscape that left students confused and vulnerable.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, is a critical database managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, responsible for tracking international students and educational exchange visitors in the U.S.
An official from Homeland Security, Andre Watson, clarified in a declaration that removing someone’s SEVIS record does not equate to terminating their nonimmigrant status, suggesting a complex legal landscape for the affected students.
Assistant Secretary Trica McLaughlin from the Department of Homeland Security stated, “We have not reversed course on a single visa revocation,” emphasizing that the normalization of SEVIS access does not imply any visa revocation reversals.
Reports indicate that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are formulating different policies under which some student visas may continue to be revoked.
Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio made headlines by revoking hundreds of visas in connection with a crackdown on student activists opposing Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Rubio has also initiated heightened scrutiny of visa applicants’ social media for anti-Israel content and has begun taking steps to revoke visas held by South Sudanese passport holders.
Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez is a reporter with KUOW, and this piece is produced as part of the Northwest News Network, a collaboration among public media organizations in Oregon and Washington.
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