Trump admin settles immigration cases with dozens of students

The Trump administration has reportedly reached settlement agreements with at least 85 international students, including Dartmouth Ph.D. student Xiaotian Liu, who won guarantees his visa cannot be revoked “absent new information.”

Catch up: Liu, who began his computer science studies at Dartmouth in 2023, discovered on April 4 that authorities had unexpectedly removed his immigration record from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database without warning. This halted his dissertation research, eliminated his income and raised deportation concerns. After he sued, Judge Samantha Elliott granted emergency relief on April 9.

About the agreements: The administration negotiated settlements with at least 85 students across six states between May and August 2025, resolving fewer than half of the 65 lawsuits filed in April, according to a review by the Concord Monitor. Those involved came from both public and private institutions, including multiple University of California campuses. The agreements limit when the government can revoke student records in SEVIS, which was established in 2003 after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Officials promised in late April to restore deleted records temporarily while creating a more orderly review process. However, no replacement system has emerged months later. Liu, a Chinese national, secured broader protections than most others, who received safeguards only from re-termination “based solely on the National Crime and Information Center record.” His agreement prevents any revocation “absent new information.”

The big picture: Since late April, immigration authorities have changed the legal status of more than 1,800 international students at over 280 universities. The government has focused on students with minor legal issues — including traffic violations and dismissed charges — while using vague “criminal records” explanations. The widespread enforcement has driven fear among the students, with some avoiding campus to prevent arrest while others have left the U.S. altogether.

Chinese students represent roughly 25% of the U.S.’ international student population and contribute significantly to university revenues and research programs, making the enforcement particularly concerning for Asian American communities.