A federal judge criticised the Trump administration’s decision to terminate immigration records for thousands of international students in the U.S., calling it “arbitrary and capricious.” Judge Ana Reyes demanded that the government provide detailed explanations for the terminations and clarify the implications of these actions for the affected students.
During a court hearing in Washington, D.C., for a case involving an international student, Judge Reyes expressed frustration over the administration’s handling of the situation. “I think we all agree it was arbitrary and capricious,” she said about the Trump administration’s move to terminate foreign students’ records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Schools and government agencies use SEVIS to ensure that foreign students comply with the conditions of their stay in the United States.
Reyes also pointed out that the process lacked proper consideration, referring to it as far from “ideal.” The case in question involved Akshar Patel, an Indian computer science student, who sued the administration after his SEVIS record was terminated due to a speeding ticket he received several years ago. Patel, who is set to graduate soon, sought a preliminary injunction to keep his student status intact and avoid potential deportation.
“It still boggles my mind that we’re firing tens of thousands of federal workers on no notice and then take 10 to 20 of them to run a bunch of names through a database to see if there are students with a speeding record,” Reyes said during the hearing.
She further expressed concern over the lack of individualised review in the process, particularly pointing out that Patel had disclosed his speeding ticket in his visa petition, which had already been assessed and deemed insufficient to affect his status.
Judge Reyes also criticised the administration’s approach to terminating student records as rushed and lacking care. “After careful consideration for 15 minutes, terminate everybody, right?” she said, questioning whether anyone involved in the decision had properly evaluated each student’s case. She emphasised that Patel had not been charged with a criminal offence and noted that if every driver with a speeding ticket were deported, “there’d be very few people left.”
The Trump administration’s termination of records was part of a broader effort to identify and remove undocumented migrants with criminal records under its Criminal Alien Program. However, many of the affected students, like Patel, had no criminal record. Patel’s case was flagged after his name appeared in the National Crime Information Centre database, but no clear explanation was given as to how individuals were selected for termination.
Judge Reyes also criticised the financial burden these actions placed on the students involved. “Aside from the utter lack of concern for human individuals, the reason I’m concerned is because those plaintiffs’ lawyers, like all lawyers, have to get paid,” she said, highlighting the financial and emotional strain on students forced to take legal action.
Though Reyes did not issue a ruling on Patel’s motion during the hearing, she urged both the plaintiff and the government to work together to clarify Patel’s status. As of now, Patel has been permitted to continue attending classes and is on track to graduate soon.
The judge’s strong remarks reflect growing concerns about the Trump administration’s handling of student visas and the broader treatment of international students, who make significant contributions to U.S. universities and communities. Many students and legal advocates are hopeful that the court’s intervention will lead to more transparent and fair processes for international students in the future.
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