International students at Washington State University, University of Idaho have records restored
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Students at both Washington State University and the University of Idaho who had their immigration status removed from a federal database have had their records restored.
Judges across the country have issued temporary orders for the federal government to restore student records in a database known as the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, according to a report from NPR.
SEVIS is a database used by the Department of Homeland Security to house information on international students studying in the U.S.
Starting in mid-March, student visas were suddenly revoked and their SEVIS records terminated which affected 1,483 students as of April 25, according to the National Association of International Educators.
“The new ICE policy announcement regarding the reinstatement of international students’ records in SEVIS in response to dozens of lawsuits filed across the country is welcome news,” reads a statement from the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Three Washington State University students whose SEVIS records had been terminated have been re-activated, said Kate Hellmann, director of international student and scholar services for WSU.
“We continue to send weekly immigration advisories and guidance as we learn more,” Hellmann said, who added university officials are offering individualized outreach and support to students.
Student visas are a separate issue, she said, and added she does not have a full update on the visa statuses of the students.
Studying in the U.S. requires an active SEVIS record and a visa, she said.
All four University of Idaho students whose visas were revoked have had their SEVIS records restored to active, said Jodi Walker, executive director of communications for the University of Idaho.
Immigration status and academic status are not directly correlated, said Walker, “So the students were able to continue their education while their SEVIS records were terminated.”
At least 50 international students in Washington and Oregon whose records were removed from the SEVIS database will have their standings restored, according to a report by KUOW.
