US court halts visa revocations of 133 students, mostly Indian

In a significant ruling, a US federal court has temporarily reinstated SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) records for 133 international students — most of them Indian nationals — whose student visas were abruptly cancelled under the controversial "Catch and Revoke" initiative launched by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

This move comes after the students filed lawsuits challenging the sudden visa terminations by the US Department of State (DOS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite no serious legal infractions on record for the majority of them.

Also Read: Federal judge orders US govt to restore visas of 2 international students

Under scrutiny

The visa cancellations, according to government statements, were connected to law enforcement encounters—even though many students had no criminal record.

This controversial crackdown involved the use of AI tools to screen students, including through their social media activity.

Rubio had earlier stated that more than 300 visas had been revoked under the programme. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) report revealed that nearly 4,736 SEVIS records had been cancelled since January 20, 2025.

Of the 327 detailed reports obtained by AILA, approximately 50 per cent of the affected students were Indian, primarily holding F-1 visas and enrolled in the Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Also Read: US: Indian students make 50 pc of recent visa cancellation, says report

Minor offences, major impact

A number of students had their visas cancelled for relatively minor reasons such as traffic tickets or violations of university regulations.

In one shocking instance, a student lost visa status after being named a victim in a domestic violence report.

Only two cases in the AILA report cited political activity. Immigration lawyers and advocacy groups have condemned the US government’s actions, highlighting the lack of clear criteria in the revocation notices and warning of the potential damage to the students’ future prospects.

Future unclear

While the issuance of Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) in favour of the students by the court offers temporary relief, it doesn’t resolve the uncertainty surrounding these students' long-term legal status.

Also Read: US revokes F-1 visas of Indian students over minor offences

Many of them, especially those pursuing STEM fields, had relied on OPT as a pathway to securing H-1B work visas.

Attorneys argue that without due process and transparency, the US risks alienating thousands of highly skilled future professionals.