Oregon International Students Win Visa Reinstatement After ICE Reverses Revocation Amid Lawsuits and Protests

Following the revoking of the visas of many international students across the US, including at Portland State University (PSU), the University of Oregon, and Oregon State University (OSU), US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made an about-turn under pressure, and many international students are getting their visas reinstated.

Revoked Oregon International Student Visas Reinstated

Many international students studying in the US, including over a dozen Oregon students, had their visas revoked a few weeks ago.

Significant pressure followed, including lawsuits such as the cases of Oregon graduate students who won their visa reinstatement battle against the Trump Administration’s deportation push.

An OSU student sued ICE over their revoked visa, which was reinstated. Two separate lawsuits were filed by graduate students at Oregon universities, who also won an appeal against the Trump administration to reinstate their visas, avoiding detention or deportation. The students are now able to continue with their studies.

The reasons for revoking the student visas remain unclear, and ICE has not indicated whether the visas were revoked because of participation in pro-Palestine protests.

A few weeks back, the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio may have alluded to the pro-Palestine protesters at PSU when he said that people who vandalize libraries and do crazy things should have their visas revoked.

In a Facebook statement, Washington Congresswoman Suzan DelBene said, “Revoking student visas at UW and other colleges was never about protecting national security. It was meant to intimidate people who spoke out peacefully and whom Trump disagreed with.”

ICE indicated earlier this week that the US government is now dropping its efforts to revoke visas. Several universities, including PSU, the University of Oregon, and Oregon State University, confirmed that their international students’ visas have been reinstated.

Last week, the University of Oregon Faculty Union also established a legal defense fund to protect members targeted by ICE.