'Unfair and Unclear': US Court Steps In To Protect Indian Students Facing Visa Cancellations

A US federal judge in Georgia has intervened on behalf of 133 international students, mostly from India, who faced visa cancellations and termination of their SEVIS records. The court has ordered the temporary restoration of their records, providing some relief to the students who were caught up in a government initiative.

The students had filed suit against the US Department of State and Immigration and Customs Enforcement when their visas were revoked, supposedly for encounters with law enforcement. But most of the students were not criminalised, and the revocations were for minor offenses like traffic citations or breaking university rules.

The "Catch and Revoke" program, launched by the US government, is focused on screening student visa holders with the help of AI technologies, such as monitoring of social media. Over 4,736 SEVIS records have been revoked since January 20, 2025, and over 50% of the targeted students were Indian, as per American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) reports.

The cancellations have severe impacts on the students, particularly those on Optional Practical Training (OPT), temporary work authorisation accorded to international students after graduation. Loss of OPT status may destroy their future in the US.

The judgment has been welcomed by immigration lawyers, who condemned the government's move as unreasonable and devoid of guidelines. The long-term impact of the court's ruling on the students is still to be observed.

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