Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, DC, May 23: A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s efforts to revoke visas from thousands of international students, describing the government’s actions as legally questionable and potentially harmful.
The decision, handed down on May 22 by Judge Jeffrey White of the US District Court for the Northern District of California, grants a nationwide injunction that stops federal agencies from detaining or deporting international students enrolled under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The court’s ruling also prevents the government from stripping students of their legal immigration status while litigation continues.
Judge White, a George W Bush appointee, issued strong criticism of the administration's shifting justifications and inconsistent enforcement tactics. “Defendants have uniformly wreaked havoc on the legal standing of international students,” he wrote in his 21-page opinion, arguing that the administration likely acted beyond its lawful authority.
“This ruling provides much-needed stability,” the judge added, noting that students can now continue their education or employment without fear of abrupt removal or legal uncertainty.
The injunction follows swiftly after the Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard University’s SEVP certification, a move that could have prevented the university from enrolling international students. Though the court did not directly address the Harvard case, legal analysts say the breadth of the injunction could undermine the administration’s ability to enforce such actions more broadly.
Judge White also accused federal officials of trying to sidestep judicial oversight, citing what he called a pattern of abrupt legal shifts meant to preempt court rulings. “It is unclear how this game of whack-a-mole will end,” he wrote, “unless defendants are restrained from disregarding their own regulatory obligations.”
The court order applies to all individuals under SEVP who are similarly affected, offering protection to a wide range of international students across the country.