Washington, D.C., April 19 – The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has raised serious concerns after collecting 327 reports of student visa revocations and SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) terminations, claiming that half of the affected individuals are Indian nationals.
According to a report by PTI, AILA said the data came from lawyers, students, and university staff across the United States. "Fifty percent of the students in these reports are from India, followed by 14 percent from China," the organization stated. Other significantly impacted countries include South Korea, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
AILA has called for urgent reforms to ensure due process in the visa revocation system. “These reports underscore the need for increased transparency, accountability, and oversight to prevent arbitrary SEVIS terminations,” the group said. They also advocated for a formal appeals process, allowing students to challenge erroneous SEVIS actions without risking their legal status or employment opportunities.
The wave of visa cancellations has prompted several international students to seek legal recourse, with lawsuits filed to block U.S. immigration authorities from deporting those affected. Many of these actions trace back to policies implemented during former President Donald Trump’s administration, which saw a significant tightening of immigration protocols for students and exchange visitors.
AILA's findings have intensified the spotlight on how these policies continue to impact international students, particularly those from India, and have prompted calls for the Biden administration to intervene and provide safeguards against systemic failures in the student visa process.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)