In a troubling trend, fifty-three international students across several Texas universities have recently had their legal status altered due to removals from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Affected institutions include the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of North Texas, Texas Tech University, and Texas Women’s University.

Details of the Removals

According to university officials, the removals from SEVIS include:

• 19 students from the University of Texas at Dallas
• 27 students from the University of North Texas
• 3 students from Texas Tech University
• 4 students from Texas Women’s University

The universities have opted not to disclose the identities of the affected individuals.

Implications of Status Changes

While visa revocations prevent individuals from re-entering the United States, they do not immediately terminate a person’s legal status. However, being removed from the SEVIS database does have immediate and profound consequences. Robert Hoffman, an immigration attorney, indicates that such removals can jeopardize employment opportunities and affect dependents’ legal standings, as the immigration status of a spouse or child often hinges on the primary visa holder.

“Unfortunately, these kinds of terminations kind of short-circuit due process by not allowing the student the opportunity to hear the specifics of their charges or defend themselves,” stated Hoffman.

Lack of Transparency in Decision-Making

There remains a lack of clarity regarding the criteria for student removals. Amidst these developments, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans to scrutinize international students’ social media for content deemed “antisemitic.” This announcement—which references executive orders from President Donald Trump aimed at addressing perceived anti-Semitism amidst campus protests—has raised further concerns within the academic community.

At a recent Faculty Senate meeting at the University of North Texas, Faculty Senate Vice Chair William Joyner highlighted his concern regarding the removals, stating that he had only learned of 16 students initially identified, a number that has since risen to 27.

“We know nothing other than this, and I am not willing to speculate,” Joyner remarked.

Universities’ Responses

Both the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of North Texas confirmed the status changes and indicated they were working to support the affected students. A spokesperson for UTD emphasized the university’s commitment to keeping students informed about their situation:

“This is a fluid situation, and we are communicating with affected students about the changes in their status as soon as possible,” the spokesperson stated.

Options for Affected Students

Students facing SEVIS removal have limited choices: they may either choose to depart the United States or apply to have their status reinstated. The total number of affected students across Texas A&M, University of North Texas, University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Tech University, and Texas Women’s University now stands at 68.

Hoffman points out that the process for reinstatement is complicated by the manner in which the removals are being executed, asserting, “They’re proactively making it so that they basically can’t continue studies, or making it extremely difficult to continue their studies here in the United States without some sort of intervention.”

Conclusion

Texas universities, which host a significant number of international students—over 8,000 at UNT alone—are navigating a complex and evolving situation that affects both their academic communities and international relationships.