Brade
International students from across the United States have united to file a federal lawsuit in Georgia, accusing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of unlawfully terminating their student visas. The lawsuit, which names U.S. Attorney PAM BONDI, Homeland Security Secretary KRISTI NOEM, and Acting ICE Director TODD LYONS as defendants, alleges that the students’ visas were revoked without due process, despite their continued compliance with visa terms.
The 17 plaintiffs claim that ICE used the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to strip their legal status, even though they had not been formally charged, convicted, or found guilty of any deportable offenses. In one case, a Georgia Tech senior was notified of his visa revocation just days before graduation, despite having only a dismissed traffic charge on his record.
The lawsuit highlights that ICE’s own guidance confirms that visa revocation does not automatically terminate a student’s SEVIS record. According to the suit, students are permitted to continue their studies even after a visa revocation, but their SEVIS record is terminated upon departure from the U.S., requiring them to obtain a new visa before reentering the country.
Attorneys representing the students are seeking a temporary restraining order to reinstate their SEVIS registrations and restore their legal status. The complaint argues that ICE’s actions have created chaos for schools and students, jeopardizing not only their education but also their legal residency, employment, and ability to reenter the U.S.
The lawsuit emphasizes that plaintiffs have a constitutionally protected property interest in their SEVIS registration and that ICE cannot misuse SEVIS to circumvent the law and strip students of their status without due process. None of the plaintiffs have been placed in removal proceedings, according to the complaint.
The case underscores the broader implications of visa revocations for international students, including their eligibility for work authorization under Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT) programs. The court has yet to rule on the motion for emergency relief.
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