UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (WTAJ) — Weeks after Penn State international students and scholars had their visas revoked, the federal government appears to be reversing the action.
Penn State University Public Relations Assistant Director Willy Medina said they were made aware the government started reactivating the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) status of some students whose status had previously been terminated.
She added the university is continuing to assist students who were affected.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Centre County DA confirms 22 Penn State students’ visas revoked
"Penn State Global’s International Student and Scholar Advising is closely monitoring SEVIS and has been in contact with those Penn State students whose status has been reactivated," Medina said.
The university began offering help to students, scholars and faculty who had their visas revoked earlier in April. Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna told WTAJ that 22 students' statuses were affected mostly for retail theft offenses and others for a small amount of marijuana and DUI.
The reversal came after federal officials said many students filed court challenges against the Trump administration crackdown, according to the Associated Press. Judges across the U.S. issued orders temporarily restoring students’ records in dozens of lawsuits challenging the terminations.
Many colleges across the country had international students' visas terminated including Harvard, Stanford, Michigan, UCLA and Ohio State University.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
