UI Students Secure Injunction Reinstating SEVIS Status Against DHS

(IOWA, UNITED STATES) Homeland Security is asking a federal appeals court to narrow a trial judge’s order that protects four international students from the University of Iowa after their records in the federal student tracking system were wrongly terminated. The dispute, which centers on the Department of Homeland Security’s handling of student records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, comes as DHS also moves ahead with a sweeping proposal to end “duration of status” for all F and J students and scholars nationwide. Together, the case and the rule could reshape how international students live, study, and work while in the United States, including at the University of Iowa.

Court order protecting University of Iowa students

In April 2025, four UI students—three currently enrolled and one graduate—sued DHS after their SEVIS records were terminated. They said the termination put them at risk of detention or deportation and caused heavy stress.

On May 15, 2025, U.S. District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger issued a preliminary injunction ordering DHS to restore and keep the students’ active status in SEVIS. The judge also required DHS to add a notation showing that the students remained active, backdated to the original termination date. The goal was to make sure schools, employers, or agencies that rely on SEVIS would see the students as active and not move forward with negative actions.

DHS told the court that SEVIS had technical limits that did not allow the kind of visible backdated notation the judge wanted. Instead, DHS sent letters to the students stating it had retroactively reinstated them. Judge Ebinger said letters were not enough because they might not be available at key moments—at a visa interview, a checkpoint, a job onboarding, or during a school process—and they did not fully fix the harm.

DHS also asked the court to change the order, arguing it was too broad and might be read as blocking possible criminal cases. The judge clarified that the injunction does not stop law enforcement or prosecutors. It simply requires DHS to give the court advance notice before taking steps against any of the four plaintiffs.

In June 2025, DHS asked for and received a 60-day extension to respond to the lawsuit, citing staffing shortages and the need to coordinate with other national cases. The new deadline for DHS’s answer was August 21, 2025. As of mid-September, the injunction stands and DHS must keep the four students’ SEVIS status active as the case moves forward.

The students’ situation highlights a basic tension: SEVIS drives many real-world decisions, from school enrollment to job training to travel. If a SEVIS record shows “terminated,” even by mistake, students can face blocked services, lost jobs, or a forced exit from the country. The court’s order aims to prevent that while the lawsuit proceeds.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, cases like this often ripple beyond one campus because colleges, employers, and consulates rely on SEVIS data to make fast judgments about a person’s legal status.

Proposed DHS rule ending D/S (duration of status)

While the court case plays out, DHS has launched a broader policy change. On August 28, 2025, DHS published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to end “duration of status” (D/S) for F and J nonimmigrants, including F-1, F-2, J-1, and J-2 visa holders.

For years, D/S allowed students and scholars to stay in the United States for as long as they maintained their program, within the rules, rather than up to a fixed calendar date. The proposal would replace that approach with time-limited admissions tied to specific program end dates.

Key features of the proposal

• Students and scholars would be admitted only until the end date on their Form I-20 (F-1) or Form DS-2019 (J-1), up to four years, plus a 30-day grace period.
• If more time is needed to finish a program, transfer schools, start a higher degree, or complete practical training, the individual would have to file Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status with USCIS before their authorized stay runs out.
  • Official form page: Form I-539, Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
• The proposal would reduce the F-1 grace period from 60 days to 30 days, matching J-1 rules.

New limits on academic changes and transfers

• For F-1 undergraduates: no program, major, or educational level changes in the first academic year.
• For F-1 graduate students: no program changes at any point during a program.
• Students who complete a program at a given level would not be eligible for F-1 status to start another program at the same or a lower level.
• Transfers would tighten: F-1 students could not transfer to a new school until they complete an academic year at their current school, unless the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) approves an exception.

Unlawful presence and timing risks

A major shift involves unlawful presence. Under the proposal, F and J nonimmigrants would begin to accrue unlawful presence the day after their specified admission period ends if they do not file a timely extension or depart. Accruing unlawful presence can lead to visa denials and long bars from reentering the U.S. That raises the stakes for routine timing errors—late filings, school delays in issuing paperwork, or misunderstandings about end dates.

Public comment and next steps

• Public comments on the proposal are open until September 29, 2025.
• Comments on information collection (including SEVIS and USCIS forms) are due by October 27, 2025.
• DHS will review comments and may revise the proposal before publishing a final rule with a future effective date.
• Follow official updates: DHS Federal Register Notices

International student offices across the country are preparing for possible changes. Advisors expect to help more students file extensions and explain tighter timelines—especially for multi-year research or students who change direction after the first semesters. Many campuses, including the University of Iowa, are tracking the case and rulemaking closely for potential impacts on advising, employment, and travel.

What students should do now

The injunction in the University of Iowa case protects the four named students today; it does not grant broader relief to all students on campus or elsewhere. Other students who worry about their SEVIS records should take practical steps:

• Keep close contact with your Designated School Official (DSO).
• Save copies of all emails, I-20 updates, and travel records.
• If a SEVIS record is terminated by mistake, act quickly—school intervention and legal counsel can reduce harm.
• Maintain a clear paper trail for disputes at a port of entry, DMV, or with an employer’s I-9 check.

Practical checklist for the proposed rule

1. Track the end date on the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 and set reminders months in advance.
2. If more time is needed, file Form I-539 early. Delays can create gaps that trigger unlawful presence.
   • USCIS instructions: Form I-539, Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
3. If planning a transfer, expect to complete an academic year at the current school before moving, unless SEVP allows an exception.
4. Be cautious about changing majors or programs—options narrow under the proposal, especially for graduate students.
5. Keep passports valid and maintain full-time enrollment to avoid status problems that would be harder to fix under fixed end dates.

Implications for employers and schools

• Employers hiring F-1 students for on-campus jobs, Curricular Practical Training (CPT), or Optional Practical Training (OPT) should prepare for more document checks tied to expiration dates.
• Schools may need to schedule more frequent appointments to help students file extensions on time.
• Lapses that once could be resolved at the school level might now lead to status violations with lasting effects.

Broader implications and next milestones

For families and communities around the University of Iowa, the legal fight shows how a single SEVIS entry can shape daily life. A terminated SEVIS record can mean lost housing, canceled travel, or missed research. The court’s order seeks to prevent that for the four students while the judge reviews what happened and why.

Higher education leaders warn that ending D/S could change recruitment and student support:
– Multi-year programs, lab projects, and co-op placements may require earlier planning for extensions.
– International applicants might face more pre-enrollment steps.
– Schools could see more transfer delays under the one-academic-year rule.
– A shorter 30-day grace period leaves less time to transition after program end.

The next milestones are clear:
– DHS’s response to the University of Iowa lawsuit was due on August 21, 2025, with further court steps expected afterward.
– The public comment window on the D/S proposal remains open through September 29, 2025 (rule comments) and October 27, 2025 (information collection).
– If DHS issues a final rule, it will publish an effective date in the Federal Register. Nothing changes until a final rule appears, but timelines could tighten once it does.

Key takeaway: Keep records current, act early, and ask questions when an I-20 or DS-2019 date does not match academic plans. Small timing issues that were once easy to fix could carry higher costs under the proposed system. The experience of the four University of Iowa students shows why visible, accurate SEVIS entries matter—and why courts may step in when errors cause harm that can’t be undone.