US State Department sued by over 200 students over revoked visas

New Delhi: More than 200 international students are suing the US State Department after their visas were revoked under Trump's immigration crackdown, as per the court documents reviewed by The Hill show. The lawsuits claim that despite court orders restoring the student status, many are still being denied new visas, leaving students unable to travel or return to the United States to continue their studies.

Immigration lawyers representing 217 students have filed two separate federal lawsuits against Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The first case, filed in early August by attorneys Steven Brown and Brad Banias, includes 59 students and also names Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons as defendants. A second case was filed in September by IMMpact Litigation represents 158 students and names only Rubio.

Both lawsuits argue that the visa revocations stem from automatic terminations under the 'Student Criminal Alien Initiative,' a programme launched during the Trump administration. Lawyers say the system cancelled visas in bulk without individual review, which violates legal procedures.

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Experts say confusion between SEVIS records and visa status has worsened the issue. SEVIS determines if a student can stay in the US, while a visa allows travel in and out of the country. Although federal judges have restored many students’ SEVIS records, their visas have not been reinstated, leaving students stuck abroad.

Greg Siskind, founder of visalaw.com, said it was surprising that the State Department had not automatically reissued visas after SEVIS restoration, calling the delay 'deeply unfair' to students.

The lawsuits highlight the severe impact of these revocations. Many students face career setbacks, financial losses and emotional distress. Attorney Charles Kuck shared cases of students who couldn’t attend family emergencies or important milestones such as weddings and funerals.

While earlier court orders restored SEVIS records quickly, visa reinstatement is expected to take longer. Lawyers estimate the process could stretch six months to a year, further slowed by the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has paused civil cases against federal agencies.

'For many international students, a revoked visa is a barrier to living a normal life in the US while pursuing their education,' said Kuck, emphasising the urgent need for action.