The United States government has reversed a controversial order cancelling hundreds of student visas, following mounting legal challenges and fierce opposition from leading American universities, the Justice Department has announced.
The Trump administration had earlier revoked several hundred student visas, citing alleged involvement in protests against Israeli military actions in Gaza. Harvard University and Columbia University led a wave of lawsuits seeking an immediate ban on deportation orders issued by the government.
The Justice Department confirmed that it would no longer cancel student visas based on entries in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems (SEVIS) database until a new system is developed. However, it remained uncertain whether the reversals would cover cases such as that of Mahmood Khalil, whose visa was revoked over his participation in the protests.
The Trump administration's actions triggered a major political controversy. Lawmakers accused the government of violating constitutional rights, and prominent lawyers launched a series of lawsuits across the country. Federal courts ruled against the administration in at least 50 out of 100 cases filed, according to reports.
HIAS, the historic Jewish immigration non-profit, issued a strong rebuke against the Trump administration’s policies. In a letter signed by more than 560 Jewish religious leaders, HIAS condemned the government's actions.
“As Jews and as Americans, we refuse to remain silent at the co-opting of our nation’s statutes and express alarm about the path down which it leads,” the HIAS letter stated. “We demand that the administration abandon its manipulative interpretation of law and restore a commitment to the inalienable rights that are the source of our country’s greatness.”
While most students have remained in the United States to contest the actions in court, some have departed voluntarily. Cornell University protest leader Momodou Taal left the country, along with a Columbia University graduate student who claimed she had not been involved in any campus protests and whose charges were ultimately dropped.
The Justice Department’s retreat marks a significant setback for the Trump administration, which continues to face strong resistance from civil rights groups, universities, and sections of the judiciary.
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