The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) welcomes today’s announcement that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will restore the SEVIS records for hundreds of international students whose legal status had been unjustly terminated. The change in position, revealed during a federal court hearing in Boston, follows mounting legal challenges and public outcry over the lack of due process afforded to affected students. AASF had previously supported litigation against DHS and ICE for SEVIS terminations issued without notice, hearing, or legal justification—terminations that impacted international students, including those of Asian origin and caused widespread fear and disruption across campuses nationwide.

“This step is long overdue,” said Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director of AASF. “We continue to be deeply concerned about the lack of transparency and the chilling effect this has had on international scholars. Restoring these records is only the beginning. The government must ensure that any future actions are grounded in due process and uphold our country’s commitment to the rule of law, freedom, and fairness. These students came to learn and contribute—treating them with suspicion and revoking their status without cause is not only unjust, it threatens our global competitiveness.”