Wed Apr 30 02:41:09 UTC 2025: ## US Government Scrambles to Restore Status of Thousands of International Students After Mass Deportation Scare

**Washington, D.C. —** Thousands of international students in the United States faced sudden deportation threats after their records were inexplicably purged from a government database. The incident, which came to light through several lawsuits, has sparked outrage and exposed a flawed system that led to widespread confusion and fear.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently admitted to running a mass search of student visa holders against the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. Approximately 6,400 students were flagged, leading to the termination of their legal status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This action was taken despite the fact that many students had only minor infractions, or even dismissed charges, on their NCIC records.

One such case involves Akshar Patel, an information systems student in Texas, whose status was abruptly terminated and then reinstated. Court documents revealed a Homeland Security official ordered the termination of all students flagged by the NCIC search within 24 hours of receiving a spreadsheet of names, suggesting a lack of individual review.

The new policy, which drastically expands ICE’s authority to revoke student status based on visa revocations, even for minor offenses, has been criticized by immigration lawyers. Brad Banias, representing Patel, stated the guidelines give ICE “carte blanche” to deport students with even minor past infractions.

While DHS claims the database changes were merely “investigative red flags,” the incident caused widespread chaos on college campuses, with many students forced to cease their studies and fearing deportation. Judge Ana Reyes, appointed by President Biden, criticized the government’s actions, stating the situation demonstrated “an utter lack of concern for individuals who have come into this country.”

Following mounting court challenges, the government has begun restoring student statuses, but the incident underscores significant flaws in the system for managing international students in the US. The long-term implications of this mass deportation scare remain to be seen.

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