Imagine waking up one day and finding out you’re suddenly illegal in the country where you study.
That was the grim reality for nearly 1,800 foreign students across the U.S. — until now.
After months of panic and over 100 lawsuits, the Trump administration is backpedaling.
Justice Department attorney Elizabeth Kurlan told a federal court that officials are fixing the broken system.
The system had yanked students’ legal status with no warning.
Their records will be restored in SEVIS, the database that tracks student visa compliance.
Relief Soars In The Air
“This is a reprieve,” said Professor Elora Mukherjee from Columbia Law School, “but the ordeal isn’t over.”
Students could still lose status if they slip up—or if officials decide they’ve acted “against U.S. interests.”
A vague standard that previously saw students punished for as little as political protest or a minor driving offense.
The chaos left many feeling trapped or forcing them to leave the U.S. preemptively.
While this rollback is good news, it’s a stark reminder: in immigration policy, stability is never guaranteed.
One wrong move, and the rug could be pulled again.
