7 UMD international student visas restored after Trump reversal
The visa revocations of seven University of Maryland international students have been reversed, this university confirmed in a statement to The Diamondback on Monday.
As of April 17, seven people at this university had their legal status unexpectedly terminated, The Diamondback reported. This university confirmed that the number changed to five people as of a campuswide email on Friday.
The change comes after the Trump administration reversed the termination of legal status for international students across the U.S. on Friday, the Associated Press reported. Before then, the federal government unexpectedly revoked more than 1,200 international student visas across country, the news agency reported.
“While we are relieved by this reversal, please know that we are continuing to work closely with the [International Student Scholar Services Office] to monitor this situation and ensure our students are receiving support,” Stephen Roth, associate provost and dean of the graduate school, wrote in a separate email to addressed graduate students on Monday.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the student visa revocation reversal in court on Friday after international students across the country filed lawsuits against the Trump administration for wrongful termination of visas, the Associated Press reported.
Immigration enforcement officials use SEVIS — the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems database — that tracks an international students’ compliance with their visa status.
Judges across the country have issued orders temporarily restoring students’ status in the database, the Associated Press reported.
Nearly 5,000 students at this university have student visas, this university confirmed on April 17.
In the campuswide email on Friday, university president Darryll Pines and senior vice president and provost Jennifer King Rice emphasized ISSS as a resource for international students.
“To our international students, faculty and staff: you are a valuable part of our community,” Pines and Rice wrote in Friday’s email. “We understand the stress you may be feeling, and we are here for you.”
