The federal government temporarily reinstated the visas of three international Baylor University students just weeks after revoking them as part of President Donald Trump’s massive immigration crackdown, the Baylor Lariat reported.
The student newspaper at the Baptist-affiliated university did not identify the students involved but connected their situations to the Trump administration’s late-April decision to reverse the cancellations initially enforced by U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement.
The sudden revocations of at least 1,220 student visas nationwide surfaced after a torrent of restraining orders from federal judges requiring ICE to restore the student records it had deleted from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems database, the Associated Press reported. Erasing the records effectively terminated student visas.
Many students were not notified when the records were purged from the system, while others were told political activism or alleged criminal activity led to the revocation. In many cases, students did not learn of the status changes until notified by their colleges and universities and had no idea why they were targeted.
Still, students remain on edge knowing the resumption of legal status is temporary.
Still, students remain on edge knowing the resumption of legal status is temporary. According to The New York Times, a Justice Department lawyer explained the reversal is designed to give immigration authorities more time to develop new procedures for reviewing and revoking the visas of international scholars and students studying in the U.S.
According to the Lariat, university spokeswoman Lori Fogleman said Baylor is doing all it can to support its international students through the uncertainty: “Baylor’s International Student and Scholar Services team and Center for Global Engagement continue to assist and support our international students and scholars, who are an essential, vibrant and valued part of our campus community.”
The university was one of many to caution international students against traveling overseas during the summer, the Lariat previously reported.
“Federal policies can change, and we cannot guarantee that students who travel outside the U.S. will not face difficulties or even rejection at the U.S. port of entry upon their return,” Baylor’s 895 international students were warned via email. “Our advice has been and continues to be that students should not travel outside the U.S. unless necessary. In order to minimize your chance of facing any disruptions to your academic program, we advise students to stay in the U.S. for now.”
Separately, the student publication’s editorial board urged the community to stand by the international students.
“This is an unfair situation for good people searching for education to better their lives,” an editorial said. “Promoting the idea of due process and staying on top of recent news will better support fellow students who are in a constant state of panic. Politics and personal feelings aside, we need to uphold the Constitution and allow due process to take its course.”
Related articles:
Trump’s fight against international students hits home at Baylor
On same day, Trump admin arrests judge and backtracks on student visas