Immigration Enforcement Actions Against International Students: Understanding Termination vs. Revocation of Status and Next Steps

The Department of State (DOS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are aggressively targeting international students, including those without a history of protest, for visa revocation, termination of their status, and removal. Late last month, Secretary Rubio reported that DOS revoked more than 300 student visas and announced a new program that uses AI-assisted reviews to screen social media posts of student visa holders.2 

Since that time, hundreds more students have had their visas revoked because of alleged criminal activities, or criminal cases that were dismissed. Once a visa is revoked, ICE can choose to initiate removal proceedings under INA 237(a)(1)(B) (present in violation of law). While ICE can make this allegation, it does not automatically authorize removal.

The State Department generally does not notify schools regarding a visa revocation, but we understand that in some or most cases students and scholars whose visas have been revoked do receive an email from the Department of State notifying them of their visa's revocation. A school would usually become aware of a visa revocation only if the student or scholar had been informed by DOS and then chose to share that information with the school.

Under 9 FAM 403.11, consular officers generally cannot revoke a visa while the individual is in the U.S., except in DUI cases. Recently, however, the Department of State has used INA 237(a)(4)(C) to revoke student visas, citing potential serious adverse foreign policy consequences. On March 28, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that up to 300 visas had been revoked under this provision. Student visas in the U.S. can be revoked at the government's discretion, but such actions are rare once a student is already in the country. 

As a student visa holder please continuously check all your email address. 

In concert, ICE began to terminate an unknown number of records of international students, which has significant implications for their immigration status.

There are widespread reports of ICE proactively terminating SEVIS records, particularly in cases where there is a history of minor misdemeanors that would not necessarily rise to the level of deportability or inadmissibility. ICE also terminated SEVIS records of students whose criminal matters were dismissed or withdrawn,

Once a SEVIS record is terminated, the international student immediately loses employment authorization, cannot re-enter the U.S. if they depart, and if they have any dependents (spouses or children), their status is also terminated. 

The following typical reasons stated for the termination, which is usually under “otherwise failing to maintain status.”

• Serious adverse foreign policy consequences (INA 237(a)(4)(C)(i)).
• Identified in a criminal records check (INA 237(a)(1)(C)(i).
• Individual identified in criminal check and/or has had their visa revoked.

 typical reasons to terminate the student visa 

Effects of SEVIS Record Termination

When an F-1/M-1 SEVIS record is terminated:

• The student loses all employment authorization, both on- and off-campus.
• The student cannot re-enter the U.S. on the terminated SEVIS record.
• ICE agents may investigate to confirm the student's departure.
• Associated F-2 or M-2 dependent records are also terminated.

There is no grace period if termination is due to a status violation. The student must apply for reinstatement or leave the U.S. immediately, along with dependents.