Lincoln immigration attorney gives advice to students who had visas revoked

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – After the Trump administration pulled the visas of some international students at the University of Nebraska, Channel 8 wanted to know what the next steps are for those students.

Shirley James, who has practiced immigration law in Lincoln for 17 years, has simple legal advice:

“If their visa has been revoked, they need to leave the country as soon as they can.”

SEE ALSO: UNL international students share their fears amid mass visa revocation

James said those students should use a new app, called CBP Home, from the Department of Homeland Security.

It provides immigrants a more efficient way for immigrants to let the government know they’re leaving.

“That would help them from being detained or thrown into detention,” James said.

SEE ALSO: Visas revoked for ‘small number’ of University of Nebraska students

She also adds if the students want to reapply for a visa, they’ll have to wait until they’ve moved back to their home country.

The number of NU students who had their visas revoked, and why this move is being made, remains unclear.

But James said she wasn’t particularly surprised that this has reached Nebraska.

She questions the revocations.

On other campuses across the country, the affected students have been involved in political causes and protests.

“I hate to say that I’m not shocked,” she said. “Either we have a First Amendment right, and if they’re under our jurisdiction, they should also have a First Amendment right.

There have been lawsuits in other states trying to block the cancellation of student visas.