By USA Daily Now 
A group of 17 international students from across the United States has filed a federal lawsuit in Georgia, accusing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of unlawfully terminating their student visas. The plaintiffs allege that the terminations were carried out without due process, using the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to revoke their legal status despite their continued compliance with visa terms.
The lawsuit names U.S. ATTORNEY PAM BONDI, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM, and ACTING ICE DIRECTOR TODD LYONS as defendants. The students claim that their visas were revoked based on vague references and, in some cases, criminal records checks, even though no formal charges, convictions, or deportable offenses were recorded. One plaintiff, a senior at Georgia Tech, was notified of his visa termination just days before graduation, despite having only a dismissed traffic charge on his record.
According to the lawsuit, ICE’s own guidance confirms that visa revocation does not automatically terminate a student’s SEVIS record. Instead, students are permitted to continue their studies but must obtain a new visa from a consulate or embassy abroad before reentering the U.S. upon departure. The plaintiffs argue that ICE’s actions have created chaos for schools and students, jeopardizing their education, legal residency, employment, and ability to reenter the country.
Attorneys representing the students are seeking a temporary restraining order to reinstate their SEVIS registrations and restore their legal status. The complaint emphasizes that the plaintiffs have a constitutionally protected property interest in their SEVIS registration and that ICE cannot misuse the system to circumvent the law and strip students of their status without due process.
The lawsuit highlights the broader implications of ICE’s actions, noting that no plaintiff has been placed in removal proceedings. The students’ work authorization under Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT) programs is also at risk, though the court has yet to rule on the motion for emergency relief.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by international students under the Trump administration’s immigration policies, which have increasingly targeted visa holders. The outcome of this lawsuit could set a significant precedent for the rights of international students in the U.S.
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