Homeland Security terminates NDSU student's immigration status
Apr. 11—FARGO — The Department of Homeland Security has terminated the work status of a recent graduate from
North Dakota State University,
a university email confirmed.
The campus email sent by Provost David Bertolini on Thursday, April 10, stated Homeland Security unexpectedly took action last Friday, April 4, against a recent NDSU graduate participating in Optional Practical Training.
Optional Practical Training is a program allowing international students with F-1 student status to work in the U.S. for a period directly related to their field of study.
Homeland Security terminated the student's Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, status. If a person's SEVIS status is terminated, they may need to depart the U.S. immediately or apply for reinstatement, according to immigration law firm ILBSG.
Bertolini's email included information from NDSU's International Student and Study Abroad Services, or ISSAS, office and Faculty Immigration Office.
"Within an hour, our team became aware of the situation and immediately reached out to the student to address it," the ISSAS email said.
"In light of recent national developments, we anticipate that similar situations may arise again," the email said. "Please know that ISSAS remains deeply committed to supporting, guiding, and advocating for our students — especially in moments of uncertainty."
ISSAS hosted virtual and in-person town hall events this week for international students and faculty to offer support and "remind everyone that they are not alone," the message said.
ILBSG, based in Illinois,
reported widespread SEVIS terminations among F-1 students nationwide with no warning this week.
It said the terminations are part of a large-scale effort by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to target individuals with lawful immigration status and issue revocations based on "actual or perceived criminal histories."
Impacts have been felt in Minnesota, as well, with Homeland Security terminating records of
at least five international students at Minnesota State University Mankato and at least three students at the University of Minnesota.
Another U of M graduate student has been held at the Sherburne County Jail pending deportation proceedings and is
facing additional charges from Homeland Security, not yet publicly available.
At St. Cloud State University,
visas for several international students was recently terminated.
At Minnesota State University Moorhead,
administrators said they're fielding questions and providing support to international students who are worried about their visa status. They have not reported any students impacted.
A spokesperson at Concordia College in Moorhead said no international students there have had their visas revoked.
An NDSU spokesperson said they did not have anyone available to provide more information.
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