Since April 4, 2025, international students in the United States on valid F-1 student visas have reported receiving notice that their SEVIS (“Student and Exchange Visitor Information System”) records had been terminated and their F-1 visas revoked—effectively leaving them without lawful status. According to The Guardian, students from more than 50 universities shared that their visas were canceled around April 4 with many noting they had never been charged with any criminal offenses. These reports follow a series of alarming developments involving the detention of foreign national students for their participation in pro-Palestine activities and the Department of State’s confirmation that over 300 student visas had been revoked. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited national interest and students’ criminal records as the basis for these actions.
The Department of State (“DOS”) uses SEVIS to “track and monitor schools, exchange visitor programs, and F, M, and J nonimmigrants” throughout their stay in the country. However, multiple universities—including UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, Stanford, Ohio State, the University of Tennessee, the University of Kentucky, University of Oregon, and Minnesota State University—have issued statements confirming that SEVIS terminations and visa revocations were carried out without their prior knowledge. While an individual can technically remain in the US with a revoked visa so long as they maintain enrollment, termination of the SEVIS record is far more consequential as it strips the student of lawful presence. Without an active SEVIS record, students become deportable and may be subject to arrest.
Media reports suggest that the impacted students are “almost all Middle Eastern…or from majority-Muslim countries.” The legal basis for many of these revocations appears to be a rarely used clause in the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the Secretary of State to revoke a visa if a student’s presence is deemed to have “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences.” The clause is decades old but has seen almost no application until now. As a result, many international student advisors are reportedly checking SEVIS daily for unexpected terminations.
In the current climate, institutions like Harvard have issued guidance urging international students to assess the risks of travel and to remain aware of how their speech, particularly online commentary related to pro-Palestine activism, may be perceived by US authorities. Despite these developments, students do have options. Those whose records have been terminated or who have received notice of visa revocation should consult with an experienced immigration attorney immediately. Litigation is already underway, with several students having filed lawsuits against the US government challenging their SEVIS terminations. More legal challenges are expected in the coming weeks.