358 international students regain SEVIS status in a significant settlement with DHS
The US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia approved the stipulations presented by the students. Their SEVIS records will now reflect 'active' status retroactively, with no gaps in immigration status. This move ensures that the termination of their student status is treated as though it never occurred.
The decision also extends to the F-2 dependents of these F-1 visa holders. Spouses and children of the affected students will receive identical protections and restorations under the settlement.
As per Lubna's report, a major concern raised by the students was the impact of the termination on work authorizations such as Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Under the agreement, the original end dates of their training programs will be reinstated, and any unemployment days caused by the termination will be removed from official records. This measure is crucial, as exceeding 90 days of unemployment during OPT can jeopardize an international student's visa status. Additionally, the agreement bars Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from using the same National Crime and Information Center (NCIC) records that led to the original terminations, records that often reflected only minor infractions like traffic or parking violations.The settlement also neutralises any potential impact the SEVIS terminations could have had on the students' future immigration filings. It guarantees that the terminations alone will not be used negatively in any future application processes.
The students were represented by a coalition of law firms under the IMMPACT Litigation network—Bless Litigation, Joseph and Hall, Kuck Baxter, and Siskind Susser. Speaking to The Times of India , immigration attorney Charles Kuck said, 'This settlement gives us more than we believe we could have obtained from a federal court judge's order and are grateful to restore our 358 plaintiffs to their proper F-1 status, without interruption. We look forward to moving against Department of State in a separate legation to restore the unlawfully revoked visas to the international students.'
(With inputs from TOI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
Evening news wrap: Karnataka ASP quits after Siddaramaiah's 'air slap', PM Modi lauds India-Ghana ties; and more
Karnataka ASP NV Baramani resigned after claiming public humiliation by CM Siddaramaiah during a rally. Prime Minister Modi, while addressing Ghana's Parliament, said that a stronger India would contribute to global stability and called for urgent reforms in global governance. Meanwhile on the trade front, India and the US are racing to finalise a deal before Trump's July 9 tariff deadline. Here are the top 5 stories that made headline today Officer cites public slap gesture by CM Siddaramaiah as reason for early retirement ASP NV Baramani has applied for voluntary retirement, citing "severe mental trauma" after being publicly humiliated by Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah during a rally in Belagavi. In a detailed letter, Baramani said he was diligently performing duties when Siddaramaiah made a slap gesture on stage, which went viral. Despite initially choosing silence to avoid further embarrassment, he eventually decided to step down. Meanwhile, BJP also demanded a public apology from the CM. Read full story PM Modi in Ghana: Strong India Vital for Global Stability Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Ghana, emphasised that a strong and stable India is essential for a prosperous world. Addressing Ghana's Parliament during his two-day visit, he also highlighted the need for credible and effective reforms in global governance, especially in light of shifting global dynamics. The PM was also awarded the "Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana" honour, which he described as a responsibility to strengthen India-Ghana ties. Follow live updates India-US trade deal talks drag as Trump's July 9 tariff deadline looms With just days left before US's tariff on Indian goods comes into effect, India and the US are racing to finalise a trade agreement. Despite extending talks in Washington, negotiators have hit roadblocks over unresolved issues. President Trump has indicated that extending the deadline is unlikely but expressed optimism about a possible deal that could reduce tariffs and ensure fairer competition. Without an interim trade deal agreement, Indian industries must prepare for a 26% tariff. Read full story Shooting incident at Chicago nightclub leaves 4 dead A mass shooting outside Chicago's Artis Lounge left four people dead and 14 injured late Wednesday night. The incident occurred during an album release party for rapper Mello Buckzz. Chicago police said three victims are in critical condition, and an investigation is underway. The site had previously witnessed a similar violent incident in 2022 when it was known as Hush Lounge. The recurrence of gun violence at the same location has raised concerns about public safety in the area. Read full story India clears Pakistan hockey team's entry for Asia Cup, Junior WC India has granted clearance for the Pakistan men's hockey team to participate in the Asia Cup in Bihar and the FIH Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu. Approvals came from the ministries of external and home affairs, aligning with India's commitment to keeping politics separate from sports. Had India disallowed the Pakistan team's participation for the two hockey events, it would have faced sanctioned from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Pakistan's participation was uncertain after the Pahalgam terror attack and India's cross-border Operation Sindoor. Read full story
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
Why did Akbar start his own faith, ‘Din-i-llahi'?
Akbar, the greatest Mughal ruler in Indian history and son of Humayun, reigned from 1556 to 1605 and introduced several innovations in administration, culture, and architecture, but most importantly in the religious space of his ruling period. He was the first to introduce the religious policy that was based on Sulh-i Kul (universal peace and harmony) between all his subjects regardless of their social, ethical, or religious identities. His religious policy did not emerge suddenly but evolved during the course of his rule and was heavily influenced by his diverse subjects. According to a study published at Columbia University, under the religious policy, Akbar introduced the Din-i Ilahi (Religion of God), a syncretic religious movement propounded by him in 1582 A.D. It was one of the most effective tactics that reduced the distance between Hinduism and Islam, which was fueled by the previous rulers. But it becomes the question of curiosity: what made him abandon his own religion, Islam, to create a new path of spiritual awakening? Reasons that sparked Akbar's religious questioning Interaction with Diverse Subjects Akbar was a benevolent ruler who extended Mughal power over most of the subcontinent. This wide, expanded ruling allowed him to govern a population of diverse ethnicity, race, and religion. The development of Akbar's religious policy in the course of time was a result of his interaction with not only Muslim society but also other religious groups, as well as local eminent leaders and rulers. Akbar's Rajput views and his contact with Hinduism, on the other hand, made an impression on his imaginative mind. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Meanwhile, the bhakti movement had created a new atmosphere in India. As a result of this movement, a great many rulers in various parts of India adopted a more liberal policy of religious tolerance, attempting to set up communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims from the beginning of the fifteenth century. Debates in Ibadat Khana Akbar established the Ibadat Khan (House of Worship) to learn more about Islamic teaching through debates on various issues. The debates in Ibadat Khana were mostly based on the existence of God, the teachings of the Quran and Hadith, Islamic law, divorce, nikkah, and more. However, when debaters started attacking each other personally. They reacted in anger to different issues, and Akbar went into a state of confusion. In this way these debates compelled him to think about the truth of religion. In a span of time, Akbar let non-Muslim religious scholars of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, etc., take part in debates. This served as a significant factor shaping his quest for religious truth. Akbar's break-away from religious practices After being the spectator of the interaction and intellectual debates between religious scholars of different religions, Akbar started deciphering these traditional practices as a medium of diverse formalities. He stopped offering namaz in public and withdrew from religious festivals. He rejected the authority of the Islamic clergy, especially those who used fatwas (religious rulings) to control political life. He believed that many religious scholars of different faiths promoted blind imitation over reason and exclusively over truth. He replaced Arabic with Persian and Sanskrit terms in court prayers. According to the research paper published in the Columbia University Journal, Akbar, in order to gain the support of other religious and social groups, asserted new ideas and enforced some innovations in both religious and imperial fields. Din-i Ilahi: Emergence of a new spiritual path With the establishment of the final religious policy, Din-I Ilahi—a new state religion of 'God-ism,' which is a mix of Islamic, Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist teachings. According to Dabistan-i Mazahib (School of Religions), Din-i Ilahi is a religious association that followed the 10 virtues. Liberality and beneficence Forgiveness of the evildoer and repulsion of anger with mildness; Abstinence from worldly desires; Care of freedom from the bonds of worldly existence and violence, as well as accumulating precious stores for the future, real and perpetual world; Wisdom and devotion in the frequent meditation on the consequences of actions; Strength of dexterous prudence in the desire of marvellous actions; Soft voice, gentle words, pleasing speeches for everybody; Good treatment with brethren, so that they will have the precedence over our own; A perfect alienation from creatures and the material world, and a perfect attachment to the Supreme Being Dedication of the soul in the love of God Din-i Ilahi acted as a personality cult, and the members of this cult, or the believers, were handpicked by Akbar among his courtiers who were spiritually inclined and open-minded. Notable followers like Birbal and Abul Fazi, men with intellect and tolerance, followed this path of a spiritual mindset that has no borders. There were no traditional practices like forced conversion to expand the believers of Din-i Ilahi. Also Read: Can cockroaches crawl into your ear while you're asleep? Here's what you need to know
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
India may allow GM animal-feed imports from US in trade deal
India may allow imports of some processed, genetically modified US farm products as it seeks to strike a trade deal with Washington, a potential concession after New Delhi opposed inflows of GM corn and soybeans. Authorities may agree to inbound shipments of some products used in animal feeds, such as soybean meal and distillers dried grains with solubles, a byproduct of corn-based ethanol production, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not be identified as the information isn't public. Indian and US officials have been engaged in intense negotiations over last few days to iron out differences in a bid to secure a deal before a July 9 deadline, when higher US tariffs are set to kick in. Earlier this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the countries were 'very close' to an agreement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologist Reveals: The Simple Morning Habit for a Flatter Belly After 50! Lulutox Undo India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment for this story. The world's most populous country is opposed to imports of GM corn and soybeans, and does not permit local farmers to grow them for food. With a vast agricultural sector, and farmers representing a key voting bloc, India retains a cautious stance toward shipments that could compete with local production, reflecting concerns over rural livelihoods and food security. Live Events At present, the government doesn't allow cultivation GM food crops, even though varieties can aid yields. The commercial release of GM mustard has been stalled due to a legal challenge in the country's top court, and in 2010, the government rejected a GM variety of brinjal, or eggplant. Still, India already meets about 60% of vegetable-oil demand through imports, including soy and canola oils from GM crops. The country is also the second-largest cotton grower, with more than 90% of that crop genetically modified.
