Trump administration restores some student visas, including CA universities
The Trump administration’s decision to walk back its bans on some international student visas is being felt by universities in the Sacramento region that were initially jolted when first enforced in March.
“A total of 14 UC Davis students and nine recent graduates have had their F-1 visas terminated,” UC Davis wrote in a news release on Friday. “Beginning April 24, the federal government has reinstated the visa status of 10 of the 23 students and recent graduates, while the other 13 remain in terminated status.”
The California State University system said 70 international students had their visas terminated over the past month.
“The CSU is pleased to see that several of its international students have had their legal status restored and that the termination of their SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor program) record has been reversed,” CSU spokesperson Amy Bentley-Smith wrote in an email Friday. “As of this morning, 15 of the CSU’s students have seen their SEVIS account changed to active status. The CSU is monitoring this development and continue to provide support to impacted students.”
The decision to rescind the ban on some visas for international students was hit with criticism when initially imposed last month. Multiple reports said many of the roughly 1,500 students nationwide who had their visas revoked were not given clear reasons for the termination. The ban led to an estimated 100 lawsuits, with more pending, with students and lawyers argu the processes in choosing whose visas to ban was arbitrary.
The reversal came after dozens of judges issued restraining orders calling the terminations illegal.
The administration initially moved to cancel visas for students who participated in demonstrations against Israel over the war in Gaza, though there were also national reports that students from China and India who had their visas rescinded. Other students reportedly had their visas banned over minor legal run-ins.
UC Davis said enforcement of the bans lies with the federal government and would not be enforced by campus police. The school also said it would not release private information about its students without proper warrants or subpoenas.
This story was originally published April 25, 2025 at 3:13 PM.
