Some visa terminations have been restored at Universities of Wisconsin campuses following a sweeping walk back by President Donald Trump’s administration Friday.
Facing a wave of lawsuits, the administration reversed the termination of thousands of visa registrations from a federal database, Politico reported.
At UW-Madison, nine of the 27 visas terminated earlier this month were reversed as of 2:30 p.m. Friday, said spokesperson John Lucas. A spokesperson for the Universities of Wisconsin said other campuses had seen reversals, as well.
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In addition, some UW-Madison international students have won protection in court, including business undergraduate Yue Yang. U.S. District Judge William Conley recently ruled her F-1 visa was wrongly terminated.
Yang’s immigration attorney, David Wilson, said the government’s reversal will bring relief for other international students.
“They can go to school and enjoy their weekend without worrying that ICE is waiting around the corner for them anymore,” Wilson said.
However, he says the move doesn’t guarantee all visa revocations will be rescinded.
“There is still an element of uncertainty for students who had their visas revoked,” Wilson said.
A Department of Justice lawyer reportedly told a federal judge the administration was working on a new system for reviewing and terminating visas.
State Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, who serves on the Assembly Committee on Education, said she is relieved that the Trump administration has, for the time being, reversed its decision regarding the “deliberately cruel and unprecedented termination of visas for thousands of individuals.”
“International students and alumni are essential members of our community, and it is imperative that universities remain steadfast in their support of them,” Hong said.
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