Wed Apr 30 02:41:09 UTC 2025: ## US Government Reinstates Student Visas After Mass Cancellation

**Washington, April 30, 2025** – The U.S. government has reinstated the legal status of thousands of international students after a controversial mass cancellation of their records. The cancellations, which occurred over the past month, left students in fear of deportation and caused widespread chaos on college campuses.

The government’s actions stemmed from a database sweep by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that flagged approximately 6,400 students through a search of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. This database includes information on arrests, even if charges were dropped, leading to the cancellation of student visas for individuals with minor infractions, such as traffic violations.

One affected student, Akshar Patel, who had a dismissed reckless driving charge on his record, became the subject of a court case highlighting the government’s actions. Court filings revealed that a Homeland Security official ordered the termination of all students’ SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) records based on the NCIC results without individual review.

While the government maintains that the database changes were intended as an “investigative red flag” and did not constitute automatic loss of legal status, the sudden cancellations caused significant distress and confusion. Some students went into hiding, abandoned their studies, or faced pressure from their colleges to leave the country.

Following mounting legal challenges, the government issued new guidelines clarifying the reasons for visa cancellations, significantly broadening ICE’s authority. This prompted criticism from immigration attorneys, who argue the new policy grants ICE excessive power.

A judge overseeing Patel’s case expressed concern over the government’s actions, stating that the situation could have been avoided with more careful review of individual records. While the judge declined to issue a preliminary injunction in Patel’s case, urging a settlement instead, the incident raises serious questions about the government’s handling of international student affairs. The case continues to unfold.

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