Updated April 28 at 2:55 p.m.
The Trump Administration is changing course on revoking student visas – for now. The Justice Department said Friday it is restoring the student records of some international students around the country whose visas it revoked. This will likely affect students who had misdemeanor charges and dismissed court cases for minor offenses.
At UNC, six international students had their visas revoked earlier this month. Carolina Connection previously reported on one student who said they were identified in a criminal records check because of two traffic incidents.
UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts announced at Friday’s Faculty Council meeting that five of the six students have had their status restored. On Monday, in an email statement to Carolina Connection, UNC Media Relations said the U.S. government restored the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records of all six UNC students and alumni.
SEVIS records allow international students to maintain their legal status and study at a U.S. university. But if students have had their visas revoked and have left the country, they may not be able to immediately re-enter the country.
Media Relations did not say if any of the six students had their visas revoked. Chancellor Lee Roberts told The Well on April 16 that the University is not automatically notified if the U.S. government revokes a student’s visa.
“It is possible that students and/or alumni would need to reapply for or renew a visa if their visa was revoked or if it has expired,” Media Relations said in its statement.
Carolina Connection’s Twumasi Duah-Mensah is joined by Student Body President Adolfo Alvarez with more on the situation.
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