Poppy Press

The Dashew Center has confirmed several UCLA SEVIS records have been reactivated. ICE is also creating a new policy regarding international students on F-1 visas.

Today, Friday April 25, three weeks since we broke the story about visa revocations at the UC’s, the Department of Justice has announced that it is restoring thousands of international students’ revoked visas.

The Dashew Center has confirmed several UCLA SEVIS records have been reactivated, but they are still in process of verification and will notify students as they confirm each case.

There have already been dozens of confirmed reinstatements for UC students and recent graduates across the state, including confirmed reports from UCSB that all revocations there have been reversed.

On March 27, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the cancellation of at least 300 international student visas. Since then, visa revocations have escalated, with thousands of international students and recent graduates across the country affected.

At least 158 UC international students or recent graduates have had their visas revoked in recent weeks.

In the wake of these thousands of SEVIS record terminations, little to no information was often given to students with the most often stated reason for termination being: “Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their visa revoked.”

This DOJ announcement follows several significant rulings from federal judges questioning the legality of the Trump administration’s actions.

Despite this development, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stated that it is now curating a new policy regarding international students on F-1 visas. The Department of Justice said that until said new policy is in place, no students will have their SEVIS records terminated purely due to criminal records checks.

Many of the individuals flagged during criminal records checks had minor misdemeanors or dismissed cases.