Four at University of Tennessee risk deportation after surprise change to immigration status
Three University of Tennessee at Knoxville students and one former student working on campus are at risk of deportation because of changes made by the federal government to their immigration status, according to an email Chancellor Donde Plowman sent April 4 to the campus community.
UT’s Center for Global Engagement discovered this week the changes to the students’ immigration status in a federal immigration database that processes documents for international students and exchange visitors.
The students’ and former student’s status were changed because they were “identified in a criminal records check,” according to Plowman’s email. The change means they are now not legally eligible to be enrolled or employed at UT and at risk of being deported.
UT’s research into the situation found one student is on “judicial diversion for a property crime and another has been charged with DUI,” but UT hasn’t determined the cause for the change for the other two individuals. The students are not named in the email.
The database is called the Student Exchange Visitor System, and commonly referred to as SEVIS. It is maintained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“The Center for Global Engagement’s International Student and Scholar Services is working to support these individuals as we continue to work to fully understand their situations,” Plowman said in her April 4 email. “(The Center for Global Engagement) will continue to monitor SEVIS and reach out to any impacted students proactively.”
UT had 1,425 international students enrolled in the fall 2024 semester. International students require student visas to enroll at UT, and UT provides resources for current students including information on traveling, maintaining their status and employment. Former students can apply for H-1B sponsorships and O-1 sponsorships to remain in the country through employment, including at UT.
Three current students and one former student “working on campus with temporary employment authorization” at the University of Tennessee are now at risk of deportation after a change in their status. UT is working with the students as the situation develops.
Plowman’s email details “unprecedented uncertainty” regarding international students on campuses across the United States due to Immigration and Customs Enforcement “systematically changing the status of international students.”
“Our international students, faculty, and staff are important members of our community, and we value the contributions they make to the mission of the university,” Plowman said in the email. “The Center for Global Engagement will continue to keep our international students informed and supported.”
UT’s Office of General Counsel posted instructions on its website for faculty and staff members who are approached by federal law enforcement about students. The website requires a UT login. Knox News obtained a document with the instructions, which tell staff and faculty to gather as much information as they can and refer law enforcement to the registrar’s office and university lawyers.
Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Four at UT risk deportation after surprise change to immigration status
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