Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly retracts cancellation of legal status for foreign students in the United States, as per legal representatives.
In a major shift, the federal government has decided to reinstate the legal status for international students across the nation, following numerous court challenges against the Trump administration's crackdown on their status.
Originally, many students had their records terminated in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) maintained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), often without prior notice to the students or their schools. However, judges in various courts have already issued orders to restore these students' records in dozens of lawsuits contesting the terminations.
The termination of status left over 1,200 students at risk for deportation, with some choosing to leave the country, while others went into hiding or stopped attending classes. Struggling to make sense of this situation, universities were hurriedly checking their students' SEVIS records for any positive changes.
"We recognize this situation is causing great uncertainty, and we want to ensure Bruins know they are not alone," expressed Mary Osako, UCLA's Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications. "As we endeavor to provide clarity to our students, we remain committed to supporting our international students' ability to work, teach, learn, and thrive at UCLA."
Universities across the nation shared the same sentiments, with the University of California Office of the President expressing encouragement by the actions taken and their commitment to supporting international students and faculty. Rafael Jaime, President of UAW 4811 representing over 48,000 academic workers in the UC system, praised the reversal as a "victory for international workers who bravely confronted Trump's fear tactics."
News of the change surfaced in a federal court in Oakland on Friday during a hearing for one student's lawsuit. Assistant U.S. Atty. Elizabeth Kurlan disclosed that ICE was reactivating students' statuses who had their records terminated in recent weeks. This change is set to apply to all students in the same situation, not just those involved in lawsuits.
While the restoration of these records is a significant relief for the affected students, the new policy framework from ICE is still under development, causing lingering uncertainty and concern over potential future terminations based on questionable grounds. As ICE develops the new policy, students continue to navigate the complex realm of immigration policies in the United States.
- The government's decision to reactivate the legal status for international students across the nation is a significant step, following numerous court challenges against the previous administration's crackdown on their status.
- The termination of status left many students, including those at Los Angeles' UCLA, at risk for deportation, causing them to either leave the country, go into hiding, or stop attending classes.
- In response to this situation, UCLA's Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications, Mary Osako, expressed sympathy and assured students they are not alone, promising continued support for their education and self-development.
- Universities across California and the nation have shared similar sentiments, committing to supporting their international students and faculty during these challenging times.
- The changes in the students' SEVIS records were first revealed in a federal court in Oakland, with ICE announcing they will reactivate the statuses of students whose records were previously terminated.
- This decision applies not only to students involved in lawsuits but to all students in the same situation, offering a significant relief.
- Despite this positive development, the new policy framework from ICE is still under development, causing lingering uncertainty and concern over potential future terminations based on questionable grounds.
- As ICE develops the new policy, international students must continue to navigate the complex realm of immigration policies in the United States, influenced by ongoing politics and general news.
