The Trump administration’s handling of international students came under scrutiny as court records revealed that thousands of visa holders were erroneously flagged as criminals, leading to severe consequences like being barred from classes, disenrolled from universities, and advised to leave the country. Despite minor infractions, students faced unjust status terminations without due process, prompting judicial backlash against government overreach. The administration’s mass exercise, known as the “student criminal alien initiative,” lacked individual reviews and violated the innocent until proven guilty principle. Eventually, with court rulings going against the administration, they backed down, but not before causing significant disruption and legal uncertainty for affected students.

The revelation that students’ records were accessed without proven wrongdoing raised concerns about privacy and due process violations. The government’s rushed actions sparked intense legal battles, with over 100 cases being handled by Department of Justice lawyers and Homeland Security officials facing challenges in balancing court responses with national security duties. The lack of human review in terminating SEVIS records raised questions about the use of algorithms and AI in decision-making processes.

Overall, the situation highlighted systemic flaws in government data programs and the urgent need for checks and balances to prevent similar errors in the future. The legal battles underscored the importance of upholding due process rights and ensuring that government actions align with principles of fairness and accountability.