Editor's Note: This story was last updated April 25 at 9 p.m.
According to the New York Times, on Friday the Trump Administration reversed course on several recent student visa revocations that took place on campuses across the country.
In an email statement to The Daily Tar Heel, UNC Media Relations wrote that the University's International Student and Scholars Services is aware of the five "international students and/or alumni" that have had their SEVIS records restored by the U.S. government.
"Prior to April 25, the SEVIS records of six international students and/or alumni had been terminated by the U.S. government and currently the SEVIS records of one student or alumni remains terminated," the email stated.
At the Friday, April 25 Faculty Council meeting, Chancellor Lee Roberts said that five of six students have had their status restored. He also said that international students greatly enrich the life of our community and that they are crucial to what we do in every facet.
"We have reason to believe that Trump’s fascist regime is backing off and reinstating international students’ SEVIS records. Three of the four UNC students we have been working with have informed us that their SEVIS statuses have been reinstated. We are still trying to verify the status of the rest," UNC Workers Union wrote in Instagram post on Friday afternoon.
The post also said that some international students have left the country voluntarily out of fear of detainment by ICE.
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System records allow an international student to remain in the U.S. lawfully, even if their visa expires or gets revoked. However, both a visa and SEVIS records are needed to enter the country.
One student who had their visa revoked and subsequently left the U.S. wrote in a statement to The DTH that they are in a difficult situation because they have lost a lot.
