Visas reinstated for all University of Arkansas' international students who had status revoked
University of Arkansas in Fayetteville (Courtesy photo)
All five international students at the University of Arkansas who had their visa status revoked last month have been reinstated, a university spokesperson confirmed Thursday.
At least 1,024 students at 160 colleges, universities and university systems had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated in March and April, according to a review by The Associated Press.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a database used to track and monitor schools, exchange visitor programs and certain designations of nonimmigrants while they study in the U.S. education system, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The terminations of records in the database were challenged in more than 70 lawsuits across the country. The federal government reversed course on Friday, April 25, when a government attorney announced in a hearing that students' terminated records would be restored while the government adopts a formal policy for revoking records in SEVIS.
John Thomas, the UA's director of media relations and core communications, said Thursday that all five students who had their SEVIS records terminated have now been restored to active status.
'We learned that the students' SEVIS records had been reinstated over the course of a few days starting last week,' Thomas said.
UA officials have not identified the students or stated why their status was revoked. The university had 1,214 foreign students as of April 25, according to a Spring 2025 enrollment report.
An internal memo filed in court by the Justice Department Monday indicates an expansion of power for ICE regarding international students' legal status, NBC News reported.
The memo to all Student and Exchange Visitor Program personnel shows an expanded list of criteria for ICE to terminate international students' status. According to the document, visa revocation would now be grounds for terminating students' status.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
12 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Trump Florida Ally Byron Donalds Skewers 'Woke' David Jolly
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) called David Jolly an "anti-Trump, radical leftist" after the former Republican congressman entered Florida's gubernatorial race as a Democratic candidate. Jolly formally announced his bid Thursday, becoming the latest party convert hoping to wrest back control of what had been the country's premier swing state that in recent years has made a hard shift to the right. Donalds, who is vying for the Republican nomination for the Florida governorship in 2026, took aim at Jolly in a post on X, formerly Twitter, and made support of Trump the key dividing line. "David Jolly is an anti-Trump, radical leftist who wants to raise your taxes, allow illegals to pour across our border, take school choice away from families, ban guns, and bring woke ideology to Florida," Donalds said. "He's completely out of touch with Florida's voters and our values. Florida is Trump Country, and I am proudly endorsed by President Trump to be Florida's next Governor. "As Governor, I will fight side by side with President Trump to protect Florida families and Make America Great Again." Even as Florida serves as a place for the Trump administration to poach staff and test policies, Jolly says he's confident that issues such as affordability, funding public schools, and strengthening campaign finance and ethics laws will resonate with all voters in 2026. He predicts elections next year will herald nationwide change. "I actually think Republicans in Tallahassee have gone too far in dividing us. I think we should get politicians out of the classrooms, out of the doctor's offices," Jolly said. "I think enough people in Florida, even some Republicans, now understand that. That the culture wars have gone too far." This is a developing story. Updates to follow. This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
San Francisco Chronicle
23 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Afghans who helped America during the war plead for an exemption from Trump travel ban
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Afghans who worked for the U.S. during its war against the Taliban urged President Donald Trump Thursday to exempt them from a travel ban that could lead to them being deported to Afghanistan, where they say they will face persecution. Their appeal came hours after Trump announced a U.S. entry ban on citizens from 12 countries, including Afghanistan. It affects thousands of Afghans who fled Taliban rule and had been approved for resettlement through a U.S. program assisting people at risk due to their work with the American government, media organizations, and humanitarian groups. But Trump suspended that program in January, leaving Afghans stranded in several locations, including Pakistan and Qatar. Pakistan, meanwhile, has been deporting foreigners it says are living in the country illegally, mostly Afghan, adding to the refugees' sense of peril. 'This is heartbreaking and sad news,' said one Afghan, who worked closely with U.S. agencies before the Taliban returned to power in 2021. He spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the issue, fearing Taliban reprisals and potential arrest by Pakistani authorities. He said the travel ban on an estimated 20,000 Afghans in Pakistan could encourage the government to begin deporting Afghans awaiting resettlement in the U.S. 'President Trump has shattered hopes,' he told The Associated Press. He said his life would be at risk if he returned to Afghanistan with his family because he previously worked for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul on public awareness campaigns promoting education. 'You know the Taliban are against the education of girls. America has the right to shape its immigration policy, but it should not abandon those who stood with it, risked their life, and who were promised a good future." Another Afghan, Khalid Khan, said the new restrictions could expose him and thousands of others to arrest in Pakistan. He said police had previously left him and his family alone at the request of the U.S. Embassy. 'I worked for the U.S. military for eight years, and I feel abandoned. Every month, Trump is making a new rule,' said Khan. He fled to Pakistan three years ago. 'I don't know what to say. Returning to Afghanistan will jeopardize my daughter's education. You know the Taliban have banned girls from attending school beyond sixth grade. My daughter will remain uneducated if we return."
Axios
26 minutes ago
- Axios
Chicago officials decry ICE tactics in surprise detentions
At least 20 people were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents Wednesday in the South Loop, advocates say. Elected officials and advocates tell Axios the detainees received text messages asking them to check in as part of a federal monitoring program that requires them to wear ankle monitors. Why it matters: Chicago alders say masked ICE agents did not identify themselves nor inform attorneys why individuals were being detained or where they were going. The other side: ICE sent a statement to NBC 5 saying the agency had " final orders of removal" signed by a judge for those detained. ICE did not respond to Axios' multiple requests for comment. The big picture: After the people were separated from their lawyers at the 2245 S. Michigan Ave. administrative office, activists called supporters to gather outside the building, leading to clashes between protesters and agents. Elected officials on the scene included Alds. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th), Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33rd), Andre Vasquez (40th), Jessie Fuentes (26th) and Anthony Quezada (35th). Quezada says agents pushed him to the ground. What they're saying: "They cannot be operating with that level of secrecy," Sigcho-Lopez tells Axios. "These people came in with no identification, pointing guns, wearing masks, shoving people to the ground, without giving any reason for why they were being detained. This was not safe. This was mayhem." "Using text messages to call people into ISAP [Intensive Supervision Appearance Program] facilities to arrest the exact immigrants who are demonstrating their commitment to the rule of law by complying with ICE's instructions runs counter to every claim the Trump Administration has made," Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Illinois) said in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The intrigue: Immigrant advocates The Resurrection Project noted that ICE agents brought a photographer with them during the action, suggesting the agency is, "turning our pain into political theater," according to a statement. "Today wasn't about public safety or law enforcement. It was about creating fear and confusion in our communities," the group said. Zoom in: Mayor Brandon Johnson released a statement Wednesday saying in part, "I condemn the reckless and dangerous escalation from ICE agents." State of play: Chicago police officers were also at the scene, but according to spokesperson Tom Ahern, they were there for crowd control and were not cooperating with ICE. "No arrests were made by CPD and the crowd dispersed without incident," Ahern said in a statement. Zoom out: Wednesday's incident came after ICE officers this week reportedly detained two people who worked at a Pilsen restaurant.
