SEVIS purge sparks outrage as US strips legal status from 118 international students in Texas

At least 118 foreign students’ legal statuses have been revoked across the universities in the US state of Texas as of Thursday, according to local media reports. (IANS Photo)

A growing wave of immigration status revocations has swept across multiple Texas universities, affecting at least 118 international students. The removals have sparked confusion, concern, and outrage among students, faculty, and immigration attorneys, as legal statuses are being terminated without clear explanations or prior notice.
According to university officials and media reports, students from prominent institutions including the University of North Texas, University of Texas at Dallas, Texas A&M University, and others have had their records removed from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS. The impact of these removals is immediate and severe, placing affected students in legal jeopardy and forcing them to seek urgent legal remedies or leave the United States altogether.
Students affected across major TEXAS campuses
As of April 11, 2025, the following numbers have been confirmed by universities:

*UTEP figures reported by KFOX14. Other data confirmed by university officials and reported by The Texas Tribune.
Additionally, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) had 10 students whose visas were revoked, as reported by KFOX14. The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Houston also confirmed to the Houston Chronicle that some of their international students experienced changes in their immigration status, though exact figures were not disclosed.
Removal from SEVIS carries harsh consequences
While visa revocations prevent reentry into the US, removal from SEVIS represents a more immediate and disruptive change, effectively ending a student’s legal status. According to immigration attorney Robert Hoffman, this kind of termination can also impact a student’s work eligibility and the legal residency of dependents, such as spouses and children. “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,” Hoffman said, as quoted by The Texas Tribune.
Attorney Phillip Rodriguez, also based in Bryan, Texas, explained that students removed from SEVIS have limited options. They can either depart the US voluntarily or apply for reinstatement, a process made significantly harder by the SEVIS removal itself.
Universities confirm cases but offer few details
The University of North Texas, one of the state’s largest institutions for international students, confirmed that 27 students had been affected. A university spokesperson stated that 19 of these students were graduate-level, according to The Texas Tribune. During an April 10 Faculty Senate meeting at UNT, Vice Chair William Joyner said he was informed by the provost that 16 students had their SEVIS status removed. That number was later updated to 27 by university representatives. “We know nothing other than this, and I am not willing to speculate,” Joyner said, as reported by The Texas Tribune.
The University of Texas at Dallas also verified that 19 of its students had their immigration statuses terminated. In a statement shared with The Texas Tribune, UTD said, “This is a fluid situation, and we are communicating with affected students about the changes in their status as soon as possible.”
Federal government ties purge to protest monitoring
While federal agencies have not disclosed how students were selected for SEVIS removal, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement on April 10 indicating that it would begin monitoring the social media accounts of international students for content deemed “antisemitic.” The DHS referenced two executive orders from former President Donald Trump aimed at curbing what the administration called “the explosion of anti-Semitism on our campuses and in our streets,” citing recent pro-Palestine demonstrations at several US universities, including some in Texas.
Among the campuses that have seen recent protest activity are the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of North Texas, suggesting possible links between student activism and immigration enforcement, though no official connection has been confirmed.
International students left in legal limbo
UNT and UTD are among the leading Texas universities in terms of international student enrollment. UNT hosts more than 8,000 international students—most at the graduate level—while UTD has a population of over 4,500, according to university data. The recent removals have sent shockwaves through these communities, leaving affected students scrambling for answers and legal support.
Attorney Hoffman told The Texas Tribune that SEVIS removals are more damaging than visa cancellations because they create a legal gray area. “I think 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,” he said.
As legal experts and university officials work to understand the full scope of the SEVIS purge, students remain uncertain about their future in the United States. With limited guidance from federal agencies and few avenues for appeal, the situation underscores broader tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and campus political activity in the current US climate.