Thousands of foreign students in the United States, including Ghanaians, have received a reprieve after the Trump administration unexpectedly reversed its decision to cancel their student visa registrations.
During a court hearing in Washington, D.C., on Friday, a lawyer for the U.S. government announced that over 4,700 students would have their visa records reinstated. This decision follows widespread legal action challenging the abrupt terminations, which had left many international students, including those from Ghana, at risk of deportation.
The affected students were caught in a mass cancellation of records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), managed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Court documents revealed that most targeted students had only minor infractions on their records, with some cases already dismissed.
The cancellations sparked panic among students, leading to dozens of lawsuits across the United States. Courts have largely ruled in favor of the students, with a federal judge in Atlanta ordering the reinstatement of 133 student records.
The U.S. Justice Department has confirmed that SEVIS records for the affected students will either remain active or be reactivated, pending a new policy for future cancellations. “ICE is developing a policy that will provide a framework for SEVIS record terminations,” a Justice Department attorney stated in court. “Until such a policy is issued, the SEVIS records… will remain active or shall be reactivated if not currently active.”
However, ICE maintains the authority to revoke SEVIS records for students who fail to maintain their visa status or engage in serious criminal activity under U.S. immigration law.
Despite the decision to restore SEVIS access, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security clarified that this is not a complete reversal. “What we did is restore SEVIS access for people who had not had their visa revoked,” spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin explained.
The situation remains complex, as the State Department — not ICE — ultimately controls the issuance and revocation of visas. Some students, fearing deportation, have already left the U.S. voluntarily, including a Cornell University student who had his visa revoked after participating in pro-Palestinian protests.
Ghanaian students and their families are advised to remain vigilant and stay in contact with their respective universities and embassies for updates as the U.S. government finalizes a new policy regarding student visas.
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