In a rapid response brief released Friday, the University of Minnesota revealed that 11 international students had their SEVIS records terminated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This action effectively ends their legal immigration status in the U.S., preventing their reentry without new, approved documentation. SEVIS, the federal system that monitors international students, is overseen by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program under ICE.
The announcement follows the March 27 detention of Dogukan Gunaydin, an international graduate student from the Carlson School, who remains in ICE custody after his B-1/B-2 visa was revoked due to a 2023 DWI charge.
According to reports, over 1,000 international students across the U.S. have had visas revoked or SEVIS records terminated. During an April 10 webinar, the University’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) acknowledged the federal government had begun removing SEVIS records, though the exact reasons remain unclear. Access to these records is restricted to authorized ISSS staff.
The University emphasized in its statement that it will not publicly release any information about affected students, citing both privacy concerns and legal constraints under Minnesota law. “While inquiries may come from a place of concern, the University will not proactively disclose immigration status details,” the brief noted.
