US Court halts visa revocations of 133 students, majority are Indians

A US federal judge in Georgia has ordered the temporary restoration of SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) records for 133 international students. These students, mostly from India, sued after the cancellation of their visas and termination of SEVIS records by the US Department of State (DOS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Government agencies stated that the students were associated with law enforcement encounters — although several had no criminal record.

This occurred after the issuance of Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) in favor of the students by the court. The immigration lawyers claimed that the cancellations are unfair and stranded many students without legal status even though they had no severe legal issues.

INDIAN STUDENTS ON OPT MOST AFFECTED

The cancellations started after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio initiated “Catch and Revoke” program. Through this initiative, student visa holders are being screened through AI tools, including their social media. Rubio previously declared that more than 300 student visas were cancelled under the program.

An American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) report indicates that ICE has cancelled 4,736 SEVIS records from January 20, 2025. From the 327 detailed reports obtained by AILA, approximately 50% of the students impacted were Indian, primarily with F-1 visas. Chinese, Nepali, South Korean, and Bangladeshi students were also included amongst those who were affected.

Most of the Indian students were in the US on Optional Practical Training (OPT) — a temporary work authorisation granted to international students upon graduation, particularly for those pursuing STEM courses. The period of work, which can be up to 36 months, usually serves as a precursor to applying for a work visa such as the H-1B. Loss of OPT status jeopardizes their future in the US.

HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS PENALIZED FOR MINOR INFRACTIONS

A number of students, the AILA report says, had their visas cancelled for relatively minor reasons such as traffic tickets or violations of university regulations. One student even lost their visa status after being named as a victim of domestic violence in a police report. In only two of the 327 cases was political activity even mentioned.

Attorneys have condemned the government’s actions, indicating that there are no set rules or regulations outlined in the revocation letters issued by DOS or ICE. “Protesting is not illegal in the US, and these students could lose everything because of vague allegations,” an attorney said.

The court’s ruling to reinstate the SEVIS records brings some relief, but the long-term effect on these students is unclear.

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