ICE Reverses Termination of Legal Status for Some Students

 Posted on April 30, 2025 in Immigration

A little over a week ago, Illinois residents woke to headlines that said, "Waves of Illinois’ International University Students Lose Their Visas." Like many immigration issues in these uncertain times, nothing is absolute. Yesterday’s headlines stated, "ICE Reversing Termination of Legal Status of International Students." The University of Illinois ranks sixth nationally in the size of its international student body, at more than 15,000. Statewide, Illinois is home to more than 55,000 international students.

Over the past few weeks, international students across the United States have experienced abrupt visa cancellations after federal officials claimed they "broke the rules." Despite those claims, the reasons for the revocations are rarely clear. According to the Secretary of State, student visas are being revoked because international students are engaging in "Activist movements that are disruptive…" On April 9th, the federal government stated it would begin monitoring the social media pages of international students.

It is unclear at this point how many of the students who initially had their visas revoked actually returned to their home country and how many of those who did so later had their visa revocation reversed. What is clear is that more than 1,200 students nationwide lost their legal status or had their visas revoked, leaving them at risk for deportation. If you are an international student in Illinois and are concerned about the potential loss of your visa or immigration status, it can be helpful to speak with a knowledgeable immigration lawyer in Bloomingdale, IL.

Revocations to Reversals for Some International Students

Students across the nation have marched in protest of the encouragement being given to students to report their classmates to ICE for deportation. After many court challenges were filed, some of the terminations of the legal status for these international students were reversed. While the federal government claimed that many of the students whose visas or legal status were revoked were "criminals," most had only minor traffic infractions on their records, while others had no idea why they were targeted.

Some students stopped attending classes out of fear of being arrested by ICE and deported. ICE claims it is "developing a policy that will provide a framework for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems (SEVIS) record terminations." The agency further stated that until this policy is implemented, the SEVIS records for international students will remain active or be reactivated.  Lawyers in Oakland, CA, are seeking a nationwide order that would prohibit the government from arresting or incarcerating international students or in any way preventing them from continuing their studies.

International Student Visa Process

International students will require an "F" Visa to attend a U.S. University or an "M" visa for a vocational institution. The process includes:

•  Obtain acceptance from a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-Approved School.
• You are now registered in the SEVIS system.
• Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.
• You are issued a Form I-20.
• Apply for a student F or M visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
• Complete the Online Visa Application (Form DS-160).
• Upload a photo that meets all the requirements.
• Schedule your interview.
• Prepare for your interview.
• Take all required documents to the visa interview, including a passport, Form DS-160 confirmation pages, application fee payment receipt, photo or proof of photo upload, certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant student status, Form I-20, and any other documentation required.
• The interview will determine whether you are qualified to receive a student visa, and fingerprint scans will be taken during the interview.

Contact a DuPage County, IL Immigration Lawyer

These are uncertain times for immigrants in the United States. If you or a loved one has questions or needs assistance with an immigration issue, a Naperville, IL immigration attorney from Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices can help. Attorney Steven Mevorah has been helping immigrants in Northern Illinois for more than four decades. His experience and knowledge can be an invaluable resource. To schedule your free consultation, call 630-932-9100.