The Trump administration has revoked visas for 327 international students, with 50% of them being from India, according to the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (AILA). This wave of visa cancellations has raised serious concerns among students and immigration advocates, especially because many of these cases involved sudden terminations of students’ legal records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

🧾 What is SEVIS?

SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is a government-run online database managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It tracks and maintains records of all international students (F and M visas) and exchange visitors (J visas) while they are in the U.S.

Schools are required to update SEVIS with key details such as enrollment status, program changes, disciplinary actions, and any violations. If a student’s SEVIS record is terminated, they immediately lose their legal visa status—which can result in visa revocation, loss of work authorization, and even deportation.

⚖️ Legal Challenges and Concerns

The AILA noted that many students were not given clear explanations or warnings before their SEVIS records were terminated. This has led to widespread confusion and distress, prompting students to take legal action. Courts in states like Massachusetts, Montana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C. have issued emergency orders temporarily stopping deportations.

One such case involves Krish Isserdasani, a 21-year-old Indian student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, whose SEVIS record was terminated over a minor, dismissed incident. A federal judge later ruled that the government’s action was likely unlawful.

AILA is calling for urgent reforms, including more transparency, independent oversight, and a clear appeal process for students whose SEVIS records are terminated—without forcing universities to get overly involved or disrupting students’ education and employment.

These developments highlight the vulnerability of international students under shifting immigration policies and underscore the need for more consistent and fair treatment.