SEVIS Terminated Without Warning? Here’s What You Need to Know (And What You Can Do About It)

If you’re an international student in the U.S. on an F-1 visa and just found out your SEVIS record was terminated—without warning, without explanation—you are not alone.

And no, you’re not crazy. What’s happening is as messed up as it seems.

Over the past few weeks, we've seen a disturbing surge in SEVIS terminations tied to minor or completely dismissed criminal charges—things like parking tickets, speeding, or even being mistakenly arrested and released with no charges at all. Suddenly, students who’ve followed the rules, shown up for class, and done everything right are being told they’re out of status. No heads-up. No due process. Just… boom. Done.

Let’s break this down, and more importantly, let’s talk about what you can do.

What is SEVIS, and Why Does It Matter?

SEVIS is a government database that tracks international students in the U.S. It logs who you are, where you study, and how you're progressing in your program. When you update your address or apply for OPT, it goes into SEVIS.

If your SEVIS record is terminated, your F-1 status is effectively gone. That means:

• You lose your work authorization.
  
  
• You might not be able to attend classes.
  
  
• You could start accruing unlawful presence—which can lead to long-term reentry bans.
  
  

And here’s the kicker: SEVIS isn’t supposed to be a punishment tool.

What’s Going On?

ICE and DHS have quietly started terminating SEVIS records for international students who’ve had any interaction with law enforcement—even if there was no conviction, no trial, no legal violation.

They’re not putting students in removal proceedings. They’re not giving notice. They’re not following their own regulations.

Instead, they’re just… deleting your record. As if you never existed in the system.

This move is:

• Unlawful under current immigration regulations,
  
  
• A violation of due process, and
  
  
• Totally unprecedented.
  
  

Is Reinstatement an Option?

Technically, yes—you can apply to USCIS for reinstatement using Form I-539. But here’s the problem: USCIS and ICE are part of the same system. If this is a political move, like it appears to be, betting on reinstatement is like asking one branch of DHS to clean up the other’s mess.

It’s slow (can take months), there’s no premium processing, and it’s entirely discretionary. We’re not saying you can’t try it—we’re saying don’t count on it to save your status in time.

A Better Option: Federal Court

That’s why Brad Banias (former DOJ attorney and now champion of immigrants’ rights) and Stephen Yale-Loehr’s team at Reddy Neuman Brown are teaming up with Pro Se Pro to offer a new legal pathway.

The plan? Individual lawsuits in federal court.

These cases will argue that SEVIS terminations:

• Violate immigration law and ICE’s own rules,
  
  
• Deny students due process under the Constitution,
  
  
• And are being used as a political shortcut to remove students ICE can’t deport through normal means.
  
  

The goal: File a lawsuit + emergency motion (called a “temporary restraining order”) to restore your SEVIS record fast. Some cases could see a ruling in as little as 2 weeks.

Two Ways to File

We get it. Most international students aren’t made of money. That’s why we’re offering two options:

1. Full Legal Representation ($6,000 + $500 filing fee)

• Lawyers from Banias Law and Reddy Neumann Brown handle everything.
  
  
• You get experienced litigators fighting for you in court.
  
  
• Ideal if you want full attorney support.
  
  

2. Pro Se Pro Lawsuit ($2,000 + $500 filing fee)

• You represent yourself with our help.
  
  
• We provide everything you need: templates, walkthrough videos, community chat, and coaching.
  
  
• You file the case yourself—but you’re not alone.
  
  

 This is the same Pro Se Pro system that’s helped over 2,000 people file and win federal cases without lawyers.

What Happens If You Lose?

You won’t be worse off than you are right now. No retaliation. No new penalties. But you’ll have fought back, and if you win, you get your status restored—and your life back on track.

And if you don’t win, you’ll still have time to file for reinstatement as a backup plan.

Final Word: Don’t Let Them Erase You

We’ve talked to students who are afraid to go outside. Students who lost their jobs. Students who were weeks away from graduating.

You don’t deserve this.

If ICE is going to take your status, they need to follow the law—not delete a database entry and pretend you're no longer here.

We can fight back. And now, we are.

 Take Action Now:

• Want a lawyer to represent you? Contact Banias Law or Reddy Neumann Brown.
  
  
• Want to file on your own with support? Get started with Pro Se Pro here.
  
  
• Still have questions? Email us anytime at help@prosepro.com or give us a call (802) 318-4668
  
  

We’re already filing cases. The sooner you start, the better your chances.

Let’s do this.

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