A federal judge has issued a significant ruling that halts the Trump administration's efforts to terminate the legal status of thousands of international students in the United States. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, based in Oakland, California, granted a nationwide preliminary injunction on Thursday, allowing these students to maintain their legal status while a legal challenge unfolds.

Judge White's decision comes in response to actions taken by federal immigration officials that affected students holding F-1 visas. The judge found that these students were likely to succeed in their legal challenge against the administration's actions, which he described as having caused "significant hardship" to the plaintiffs. He emphasized that the federal officials did not demonstrate that the students posed any immediate threat to safety or national security.

In his 21-page ruling, White stated that the injunction provides a "measure of stability and certainty" for the students, allowing them to continue their studies and employment without the fear of having their legal status revoked. The ruling prevents immigration authorities from arresting or detaining the students involved in the case or those in similar situations until the matter is resolved. It also bars the administration from reversing the reinstatement of certain students' legal statuses.

The legal battle began after the Trump administration initiated a program known as the "Student Criminal Alien Initiative," which led to the termination of SEVIS records for many international students. These records are crucial as they track the compliance of students with their visa requirements. In early April, many students discovered that their SEVIS records had been canceled, effectively jeopardizing their legal status in the U.S.

The plaintiffs argued that their records were terminated based on criminal background checks, despite none having a criminal history that would warrant such actions. Their lawsuit, filed last month, highlighted the arbitrary nature of the terminations and the lack of due process involved.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that the Department of Homeland Security had used a significant number of employees to cross-reference the names of 1.3 million foreign-born students with criminal records. Critics of this process pointed out that the National Crime Information Center database often lacks complete information, which could lead to wrongful terminations of students' statuses.

Judge White criticized the administration's approach, stating that it raised concerns about potentially circumventing judicial review. He noted that the administration's actions had caused widespread disruption not only for the plaintiffs but for many other international students across the country.

The ruling marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal disputes surrounding immigration policies affecting international students, as it is the first nationwide injunction providing relief to this group amid the Trump administration's broader immigration enforcement efforts.