Adapted from the F-1 visa revocations megathread in /r/f1visa which you can see here.
4-16-25 tl;dr: The courts are siding heavily with students. Courts are pushing back against really poor defense strategies by the government. The number of reported SEVIS terminations has dropped significantly.
Quote of the day 4-16-25
"THE COURT: Do you realize that this is Kafkaesque? I've got two experienced immigration lawyers on behalf of a client who is months away from graduation, who has done nothing wrong, who has been terminated from a system that you all keep telling me has no effect on his immigration status, although that clearly is BS. And now, his two very experienced lawyers can't even tell him whether or not he's here legally, because the Court can't tell him whether or not he's here legally, because the government's counsel can't tell him if he's here legally."
Please report your termination using the link below.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association is tracking SEVIS termination cases. Please Report using this form Thanks u/imm_DP
Timeline of Main Events (Early 2025)
- Early 2025 (Ongoing): The Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement measures, with a surprising focus on student visas (F-1, M-1, J-1).
- Early 2025 (Ongoing): High-profile arrests of international students generate news coverage and raise concerns about First Amendment rights violations.
- Early 2025 (Ongoing): The Department of State (DOS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aggressively target international students beyond protesters, including those without a history of protest, for visa revocation, termination of their status, and removal.
- Late March 2025: Secretary of State Marco Rubio reports that the DOS revoked more than 300 student visas.
- Late March 2025: Secretary Rubio announces a new program using AI-assisted reviews to screen social media posts of student visa holders.
- Late March 2025 (and ongoing): Hundreds more students have their visas revoked due to alleged criminal activities or criminal cases that were dismissed. These revocations are often based on INA 237(a)(4)(C), citing potential serious adverse foreign policy consequences.
- Late March 2025 (and ongoing): ICE begins to terminate an unknown number of SEVIS records of international students, impacting their immigration status and employment authorization (including OPT). Terminations are occurring even in cases of minor misdemeanors or dismissed criminal cases.
- March 27, 2025: An Axios article quotes a "senior State Department official" warning that institutions with foreign students will undergo review, and having "so many bad apples" could lead to decertification.
- March 28, 2025: Secretary of State Marco Rubio addresses the revocation of over 300 visas (including student and visitor visas), stating that they occur if individuals engage in activities counter to U.S. foreign policy or national interests. He clarifies that while many cases are linked to pro-Palestinian protests, some involve unrelated groups or criminal charges.
- March 31, 2025: NAFSA engages in a conversation with HSI leadership regarding notifications of ICE-initiated SEVIS record terminations, with HSI confirming the expectation that DSOs will notify students.
- April 2025 (Early): Students begin receiving emails from the Department of State notifying them of their F-1 visa revocation under Section 221(i) of the INA.
- April 3, 2025: Attorney Steven Brown posts on X (Twitter) about SEVIS being terminated for minor issues.
- April 5, 2025: r/f1visa megathread identifies a majority of the terminated students were not connected to activities covered by the Laken Riley Act (related to certain crimes) and lacked convictions, raising concerns about the basis of terminations.
- April 8, 2025: NAFSA reports that the termination reasons in SEVIS are being changed after-the-fact from specific INA citations to a more generic "OTHER," with notes like "Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked. SEVIS record has been terminated."
- April 9, 2025: A Dartmouth student wins a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), allowing them to maintain their status for two weeks while their case continues.
- April 11, 2025: Jeff Joseph, incoming president of AILA, reports that more than 4,700 students have had their SEVIS records terminated by DHS since President Trump took office.
- April 11, 2025: Banias Law reports a TRO has been granted in one of their cases.
- April 2025 (Ongoing): Several lawsuits are filed by students and legal groups (including SomiReddy Law group, ACLU-NH, and others in CA and PA federal courts) challenging the visa revocations and SEVIS terminations.
- April 2025 (Ongoing): Multiple other TROs have been granted.
Executive Summary:
The Trump administration is currently implementing heightened immigration enforcement measures targeting international students in the U.S. This briefing document synthesizes information from legal and educational association updates, as well as a student-focused online forum, highlighting a significant increase in student visa revocations and SEVIS record terminations. These actions are raising serious concerns regarding due process, First Amendment rights, and potential long-term economic and educational impacts. The Department of State (DOS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are employing new methods, including AI-assisted social media screening, and citing broad grounds like "serious adverse foreign policy consequences" and failure to maintain status, often without clear justification or due process. Over 4,700 students have reportedly had their SEVIS records terminated as of April 11, 2025. Legal challenges are underway, and guidance emphasizes the critical need for affected students to seek immediate legal counsel. Courts across the country are increasingly siding with affected students, granting temporary restraining orders (TROs) en masse to block unjust visa revocations and SEVIS terminations. Judges are recognizing the severe due process violations and lack of transparency in these enforcement actions, with many calling out the Kafkaesque nature of the current system. Students, who have done nothing wrong, are facing sudden status terminations with little to no explanation, forcing legal battles that are now gaining traction. The surge in TROs reflects judicial pushback against arbitrary immigration enforcement, highlighting the urgent need for clearer protections for international students caught in bureaucratic chaos.
Event Overview/Summary: Increased SEVIS Terminations and Visa Revocations for International Students (March-April 2025)
On or about March 24, 2025, schools began to observe that F-1 student records were being terminated directly by ICE/Homeland Security within the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). These actions directly impacted the legal status of international students in the United States.
Around the same time, students started receiving email notifications from the Department of State (DOS) informing them that their F-1 visas had been revoked. The example wording of these emails stated: "On behalf of the United States Department of State, the Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office hereby informs you that additional information became available after your visa was issued. As a result, your F-1 visa was revoked in accordance with Section 221(i) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended". The revocation authority lies with INA Section 221(i), which grants the Secretary of State discretion to revoke visas at any time.
On March 28, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the revocation of over 300 visas, clarifying that this number included both student and visitor visas. He stated that visas were being revoked if individuals engaged in activities counter to U.S. foreign policy or national interests. While many cases were linked to pro-Palestinian protests, some involved unrelated groups or criminal charges. Rubio explained that if the information about an individual would have prevented their initial visa approval, the visa was being revoked. He also confirmed that this number of revocations was growing daily. The Department of State has been using INA 237(a)(4)(C), which concerns potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences, as a basis for some of these revocations.
Further Developments (Late March - Early April 2025):
By late March 2025, Secretary Rubio had reported the revocation of more than 300 student visas.
Concurrently with visa revocations, ICE began to terminate an unknown number of international student records in SEVIS, which has significant implications for their immigration status. These actions were described as unprecedented, with wide-ranging impacts and significant due process concerns.
The termination reasons initially noted in SEVIS often included "OTHERWISE FAILING TO MAINTAIN STATUS", sometimes in conjunction with INA 237(a)(1)(C)(i) (general failure to maintain nonimmigrant status) and INA 237(a)(4)(C)(i) (serious adverse foreign policy consequences). Another initial termination reason was "OTHERWISE FAILING TO MAINTAIN STATUS - Student identified in criminal records check. Terminated pursuant to 237(a)(1)(C)(i)/ 8 USC 1227(a)(1)(C)(I).". NAFSA began receiving reports of these SEVIS terminations.
By April 3, 2025, attorney Steven Brown noted on X that SEVIS records were being terminated for minor issues.
On April 4, 2025, NAFSA and other higher education associations signed a letter from the American Council on Education (ACE) to the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, seeking more information on the policies and planned actions concerning international students and scholars.
Around April 8, 2025, NAFSA reported that the termination reasons in SEVIS were being changed after-the-fact from "OTHERWISE FAILING TO MAINTAIN STATUS" to "OTHER", and INA citations were being removed, replaced with a more generic note: "Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked. SEVIS record has been terminated."
As of April 9, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that USCIS would now consider politically sensitive activity, including social media content and any form of harassment, as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests, effective immediately.
By April 10, 2025, NAFSA reported receiving over 800 reports of international students and scholars having their visas revoked and/or their SEVIS records terminated. NAFSA also released an initial analysis of these actions.
As of April 11, 2025, Jeff Joseph, incoming president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, stated that the Department of Homeland Security had terminated the records of more than 4,700 international students and scholars in SEVIS since President Donald Trump took office.
As of April 17, 2025 AILA and Senator Durbin's office has identified 4,736 terminations with 4,713 being F-1 and 23 being M-1 students.
Also around this time, lawsuits began to be filed challenging the SEVIS terminations and visa revocations. For example, a Dartmouth student won a temporary restraining order (TRO) on April 9, 2025.
Reasons for SEVIS Termination:
The terminations are often based on various statutes and regulations. So far the list includes the following:
Termination reasons below are likely related to protests and/or speech-related items (educated assumption)
- "TERMINATION REASON: OTHERWISE FAILING TO MAINTAIN STATUS - Student is terminated pursuant to INA 237(a)(1)(C)(i) and 237(a)(4)(C)(i)."
- INA 237(a)(4)(C)(i) is the "serious adverse foreign policy consequences" provision and likely has a basis in protest and speech activity, which could even include social media posts.
- INA 237(a)(1)(C)(i) is the general provision that renders someone deportable for a failure to maintain nonimmigrant status or to comply with the conditions of nonimmigrant status.
Termination reasons below are likely due to a past arrest or conviction basis (educated assumption)
- "TERMINATION REASON: OTHERWISE FAILING TO MAINTAIN STATUS - Student identified in criminal records check. Terminated pursuant to 237(a)(1)(C)(i)/ 8 USC 1227(a)(1)(C)(i)."
Notes:
It is in question as to if SEVP has the authority to terminate a student for a status violation unilaterally without additional processing or appeals. A finding of violation of status due to criminal activity (with few exceptions) requires the student to be removable under specific statutory provisions. Most of which mandate a conviction.
The Laken Riley Act expanded the scope to include arrests or admissions of key elements in crimes such as burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. However, as of 04/05/2025, a majority of the terminated students identified were not connected to such activities and lacked any convictions. Many of these terminations appear unclear and questionable. As a result, it is strongly advised to promptly apply for reinstatement in most cases, while avoiding travel for visa renewal due to the significant risks associated with reentry.
Regulatory framework imposes restrictions on the termination of an F-1 visa as established in Fang v. ICE, 935 F.3d 172, 185 n.100 (3rd Cir. 2019), the regulations, specifically 8 C.F.R. 214.1(d), do not allow visa termination solely on the basis of a criminal record without additional justification. The termination regulation requires substantial grounds for such actions, as it does not permit termination without more substantial reasoning or justification.
Exceptions to the above would be any crimes involving DUI, drugs, assault, burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, or similar types of crimes. Even a lack of conviction for the above crimes could still leave a student open to status termination and visa revocation.
Initial termination reasons in SEVIS were reportedly changed after-the-fact to "OTHER" with more vague notations and removal of INA citations.
Impact on Students:
* Immediate loss of F-1 status.
* Loss of all on- and off-campus employment authorization, including OPT and CPT.
* Inability to re-enter the U.S. if they depart.
* Termination of status for dependents (spouses or children).
* Potential for accruing unlawful presence.
* Complications for future visa applications.
* Distress and uncertainty due to lack of clear explanations and due process.
Due Process Concerns and Legal Challenges:
* Many terminations appear to occur without adequate notice or explanation, hindering students' ability to defend themselves.
* Reinstatement of student status is possible through USCIS but is a slow process with uncertain outcomes and requires acknowledging a status violation. Immigration judges cannot review reinstatement denials.
* Challenging visa revocations has limited due process protections, with the Supreme Court ruling that revocation of a visa petition lacks judicial review.
* Students facing removal proceedings have the right to legal counsel (at their own expense) and can challenge the government's evidence.
Advice and Recommendations:
" Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, nor do I moonlight as one in an alternate timeline where I deliver stirring courtroom speeches on primetime TV. I once tried reading legal documents for fun—turns out, fun was not had. If you're making decisions that could affect your future, your finances, or your freedom, please consult an actual attorney, not someone who thinks ‘voir dire’ is just fancy French for ‘tell the truth’. Trusting me for legal advice would be like trusting a raccoon to draft your will—sure, it might tuck it away safely, but only after chewing the edges and storing it in a tree."
*File a TRO and/or join a class of students in filing lawsuits
Students are seeing more success going the legal route over reinstatement.
Reinstatement Process:
Students can apply for reinstatement by submitting Form I-539 to USCIS, along with supporting documents and fees. Eligibility requires proving the violation was beyond their control and showing intent to resume full-time study. Do this WITH an immigration attorney. Do not do this alone.
- Many of the terminations are mysterious and questionable. Thus, application for reinstatement asap is highly recommended for most. Travel to renew a revoked visa and risk a perilous reentry is not advised currently.
- For reinstatement, a student must assert that no status violation has taken place, claiming that ICE acted unilaterally and without valid justification in terminating the record. In certain instances, the sole removal basis referenced in the SEVIS termination is INA Section 237(a)(1)(C)(i), which requires, with few exceptions, a conviction. Other terminations have no specific reason provided. In these situations, a student can challenge ICE’s claim and emphasize that no conclusive determination of removability has been issued.
- However, there is a very serious potential risk with reinstatement. A denial of reinstatement may trigger the accrual of unlawful presence towards the 3 and 10-year bans on return to the US in the future. Currently, a SEVIS termination alone does not come with immediate unlawful presence accrual.
Travel After Termination and re-entry:
Not advisable without consultation from an immigration attorney well-versed in SEVP/F/J/M status. Likelihood of a denial is deemed exceptionally high.
Impact on Future Visa Applications:
SEVIS terminations and Visa revocations can complicate future visa applications.
Options for Staying in the U.S.:
Students can apply for reinstatement or leave the U.S. and re-enter with a new SEVIS record (not advised). Remaining in the U.S. without status will lead to complications.
Appealing SEVIS Termination:
Appeals or motions can be filed with SEVP, often requiring Form I-290B and a fee. Legal counsel is recommended for complex cases.
Grace Periods:
Violations of status typically have no grace period. F-1 status holders generally do not immediately accrue unlawful presence after their SEVIS record is terminated. Instead, unlawful presence begins to accrue under specific circumstances, such as:
- When a reinstatement application is denied
- An immigration judge issues a removal order, or
- Department of Homeland Security identifies a status violation during the review of another immigration benefit.
- F-1 students are admitted for "Duration of Status" (D/S), meaning they can remain in the U.S. as long as they comply with the terms of their visa and maintain an active/valid SEVIS record. However, once a violation occurs, such as termination of SEVIS without reinstatement, the protections of D/S may no longer apply.
Legal Assistance:
Immigration attorneys can provide guidance on reinstatement, appeals, or other SEVIS-related issues.
Social Media:
April 9, 2025 The Department of Homeland Security announced that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will now consider politically sensitive activity, including social media content and any form of harassment, as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests, effective immediately.
- Use strict privacy settings to limit visibility of personal posts..
- Even unintentional or past posts could be scrutinized under this policy.
- Be mindful of your affiliations, both online and offline.
- Consult with an immigration attorney if you have concerns about your social media activity
FAQ
Are students getting their visas revoked over traffic tickets?
Maybe. But let’s be real—you probably aren't. So calm down. No one here actually knows for sure, except ICE Officer Jerry, who is undoubtedly lurking and enjoying the chaos. And guess what? Jerry’s not talking..
Are students being terminated and losing their visas because of their nationality?
No. There is no clear pattern or trend in terms of the nationality of the students being affected by the visa revocations and SEVIS record terminations. Students from all regions of the world are being impacted.
Are people with no criminal history being terminated?
There are reported cases where the victim of a crime had their status terminated. It looks to be an error in finding the victim of a crime and running them as the perpetrator of the crime. There have also been US Citizen Immigration Attorneys who have received letters that their admissions to the US is over and they need to depart. So, some stupid mistakes are happening.
If your status is terminated, talk to an immigration attorney
What crimes are students being terminated for?
We do not know the specific reasons why students were terminated. We are making our best guesses/assumptions. The government has not released specifics for anyone's case. Until lawsuits are filed and discovery made, we will not know why students were specifically terminated.
Additionally, students terminated for no apparent reason are either false positives, AI review issues, bad report entry by the police officer/jurisdiction where the criminal event happened, or terminated for other reasons (AI hit on their social media, protesting, other prior F-1 violations)
Can SEVP terminate students without a conviction?
Yes, it looks like they are doing so. Whether this is legal is questionable, with the source noting "probably, almost certainly not". The "Identity match in criminal records" is listed as a reason for termination, and reports indicate that a majority of terminated students as of 04/05/2025 were not connected to activities covered by the Laken Riley Act and lacked any convictions. Terminations have cited "Student identified in criminal records check" under "Otherwise Failing to Maintain Status".
Are students being terminated and losing their visas because they were fingerprinted in relation to criminal charges?
There is now enough data to say that fingerprinting is strongly correlated to the terminations. Not a guarantee as there are far, far more people with fingerprinting records than terminations
Should I go home?
See advice item above. Obtain an immigration attorney.
Can SEVP terminate students without a conviction
Looks like they are doing so. Is it legal...probably, almost certainly not.
Does the policy apply equally to all nonimmigrant visa categories, such as J-1 or H-1B visas? Currently, the focus appears to be on F-1 student visas and visitor visas, but other categories may also be scrutinized under similar standards.
What should I do if I believe my SEVIS termination or visa revocation was a mistake?
Gather all relevant documentation and consult an immigration attorney to file for reinstatement or appeal the decision with SEVP.
Are there any protections for students terminated due to administrative errors?
Students may argue that no violation occurred and challenge the termination through reinstatement requests or legal processes.
Can I work if my SEVIS was terminated while on OPT/STEM OPT?
No.
Can I work while my reinstatement application is pending?
No, students cannot legally work while awaiting a decision on their reinstatement application.
What are the chances of successfully re-entering the U.S. with a new SEVIS record?
Re-entry with a new SEVIS record is risky and often leads to significant scrutiny or denial at the border.
If my SEVIS record is terminated, do I have any grace period to leave the U.S.?
F-1 students typically do not have a formal grace period after SEVIS termination, unless reinstatement is being pursued or another status is obtained.
Does unlawful presence begin immediately after SEVIS termination?
No, it begins only under specific conditions, such as reinstatement denial or a formal determination by DHS.
What should I do if I believe my SEVIS termination or visa revocation was a mistake?
You should gather all relevant documentation and consult an immigration attorney to file for reinstatement or appeal the decision with SEVP.
Does sealing my record stop me from being at risk?
No. Records cannot be sealed for immigration purposes.
What types of social media activity might lead to visa revocation or termination?
Posts that are perceived as politically sensitive, controversial, or critical of U.S. foreign policy, even unintentionally, may lead to scrutiny.
Can deleting controversial posts prevent issues with immigration authorities?
While deleting posts may help, authorities could still review archived or previously flagged content.
Should I deactivate my social media accounts to avoid scrutiny?
Deactivating accounts may reduce visibility but could also be perceived as an attempt to hide activity, so consult an attorney for guidance.
How can I find an immigration attorney experienced in SEVIS-related issues?
Look for attorneys specializing in student visas and nonimmigrant status cases through trusted organizations like the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
What should I bring to a consultation with an immigration attorney?
Bring all relevant documents, including visa information, SEVIS termination notices, emails from ICE or the Department of State, and any supporting evidence for your case.
Additional Resources
Public Data Map and list of schools with the number of students terminated. Inside Higher Ed.
AILA-Policy Brief: Immigration Enforcement Actions Against International Students
This memo is by Rajiv Khanna provides a guide on how to navigate this situation.
Solid summary that explains what’s going on right now Thanks u/Gloomy-Membership-14
Where Do I Find an Immigration Attorney?
Resources like the American Immigration Lawyers Association AILIA Lawyer Search or the National Immigration Legal Services Directory can help find legal aid. For AILA you can search for lawyers versed in SEVP items.
