ICE Reverses Mass SEVIS Terminations: What F-1 Students Need to Know Now

ICE Reverses Mass SEVIS Terminations: What F-1 Students Need to Know Now

Background and Context

In late March 2025, thousands of F-1 students across the United States discovered that their SEVIS records had been abruptly marked “Terminated,” leaving many to fear they had fallen out of status overnight. Lawsuits quickly followed, and federal judges signaled that the mass cancellations—carried out without notice or individualized review—were on shaky legal ground. Confronted by mounting court orders and campus outcry, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reversed course on April 25, restored every affected record, and pledged to pause further terminations while it drafts new procedures. Although students’ status is secure for now, the agency has stated that a revised and possibly more targeted termination process is coming, making it essential for international students to stay informed and maintain close contact with their Designated School Officials in the weeks ahead.

Key take-aways

| ✅ Affected students are still in status | ✅ F-1 students can keep attending classes | ⚠️ ICE may try terminating some F-1 students’ status again once new procedures are issued |

If your SEVIS record shows “Terminated,” you remain in lawful F-1 status

• On April 25, 2025, government lawyers told multiple federal courts that ICE is reactivating every SEVIS record it terminated over the past month and will refrain from additional terminations while it writes a new policy.​ AP News
• Judges around the U.S. had already ordered ICE to restore thousands of records, finding that sudden terminations without notice cause “irreparable harm.”​ Inside Higher Ed

What you should do today

1. Log in to SEVIS/your school portal and take a screenshot of your current record.
2. Attend all classes and maintain full-time enrollment.
3. Email or meet with your Designated School Official (DSO) immediately so they can confirm your record is back to Active (or flag it for manual reactivation). Bring your screenshot.

Be prepared for ICE to revisit your record

ICE told the courts it intends to issue “new procedures” for future SEVIS terminations once internal guidance is drafted. Those rules may rely on refined FBI-NCIC background-check data—the same data set that triggered this episode. ​AP News

Practical steps

• Check your SEVIS status weekly and save a dated screenshot.
• Monitor school e-mails—DSOs will receive any future alerts first.
• Keep your I-20, passport, I-94, and transcripts up to date; you will need them if ICE requests evidence.
• Consult an immigration attorney promptly if you receive any notice of proposed termination or visa revocation.

How did we get here? A quick legal snapshot

Why courts said ICE went too far

1. Due Process: Students got no advance notice or chance to respond.
2. Administrative Procedure Act: Mass terminations departed from existing regulations without formal rule-making.
3. Status ≠ Visa: ICE argued a SEVIS termination doesn’t end F-1 status, but judges found the practical effect is the same—students stop studying and risk removal.

Expect further litigation (and possible Congressional oversight) once ICE unveils its replacement policy.

Bottom line for students

• You are lawful and can keep studying right now.
• Stay vigilant: ICE is likely to try again under a new framework.
• Maintain close contact with your DSO and an experienced immigration attorney to respond quickly if your record changes.

This post is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, schedule a consultation with Houston immigration attorney Chris Hammond.