Trump Administration Restores Catholic University Student’s Visa Following Termination

Image courtesy of The Catholic University of America

By Patrick D. Lewis

A Catholic University student will now be permitted to remain in the United States and continue his studies following a reversal of the revocation of their visa by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The restoration of the visa comes a few weeks after the student’s visa was suddenly revoked during the Trump Administration’s flurry of terminations of student visas across the country.

The student, identifying information about whom can not be released by Catholic University, is a current, full-time student with a student visa. 

The student was one of thousands around the country whose F1 visa, the type issued to most international students, was suddenly terminated by Homeland Security. DHS did not inform the student nor Catholic University about the termination, which was discovered by chance by university staff. The school then informed the student that his visa had been terminated and advised him of his rights and further information about the case.

At the time, Catholic University Vice President for Communications Karna Lozoya said, “We can acknowledge that a student’s SEVIS record has been Terminated by the Department of Homeland Security. As a member of our learning community, we have been supportive of the student in ensuring he is supported and informed of his rights.”

On Wednesday, university officials determined that the administration had reversed, allowing the student to remain in the country. Homeland Security issued many such decisions in the days leading up to the CUA student’s case as the administration lost court cases involving hardline immigration enforcement.

Well over 500 Catholic University students are in the country on student visas, the majority of whom are graduate students. Some faculty, staff, and researchers are also in the country thanks to visas. 

Normally, it’s the university, not the government, that terminates visas in an online management system known as SEVIS. Those terminations are often because the student has been asked to leave the university, has taken a leave of absence, or has violated the terms of the visa. Violations include things like taking a job, which is prohibited for people in the country on a student visa, or not being enrolled in a full load of courses.

For now, the student will be allowed to continue studies. Future decisions could still affect the student’s status depending on court decisions and Trump administration action.