The Trump administration is discreetly canceling the visas of certain international students, frequently without prior notice or a clear rationale. Educational institutions throughout the United States report that this enforcement is causing significant disruptions in students’ lives and could deter prospective students from enrolling.
A recent crackdown on international students has raised alarms among college students, who express concerns that the Trump administration is employing ambiguous justifications and new strategies to compel certain foreign students to exit the country, as reported by The Associated Press.
University administrators are apprehensive that this approach will deter prospective international students from choosing to study in the United States. In a significant departure from previous policies, the Department of Homeland Security is now mandating that students who lose their visas depart immediately, rather than permitting them to remain and complete their education.
Some students have been singled out for their support of pro-Palestinian initiatives, involvement in criminal activities, or even minor traffic infractions. Others remain perplexed about the reasons behind their penalties.
At Minnesota State University in Mankato, President Edward Inch informed the campus community that five international students had their visas revoked for unspecified reasons.
The university became aware of the visa revocations after reviewing a federal student database, which followed the detention of a Turkish student at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The State Department indicated that this detention was associated with a drunk driving conviction.
“These are challenging times, and this situation is unprecedented in our experience,” Inch conveyed in a message to the campus.
Former President Donald Trump had vowed to deport foreign students participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The crackdown was initiated following the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia and a Palestinian activist, who had been involved in protests at the university the previous year.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently indicated that students are being singled out for protest-related activities and potential criminal conduct. In the last two weeks, the government seems to have intensified its enforcement measures. Colleges nationwide have reported that international students are losing their visas and legal residency status unexpectedly. This situation affects students at institutions such as Arizona State, Cornell, North Carolina State, the University of Oregon, the University of Texas, and the University of Colorado.
Some students are choosing to leave the country voluntarily, while others, including those at Tufts and the University of Alabama, have been apprehended by immigration officials—often without prior notification to the universities regarding their visa status changes.
In this enforcement surge, authorities claim that the federal government is circumventing colleges and directly removing international students’ records.
Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, noted that students are being instructed to depart the United States so abruptly that universities are finding it difficult to react.
Historically, students who lost their visas could remain in the U.S. and continue their studies, although they would need to renew their visas if they left and wished to return. Currently, however, an increasing number of students are losing their legal status entirely, which places them at risk of arrest.
“This is not standard procedure,” Feldblum remarked.
At North Carolina State University, two Saudi Arabian students departed the U.S. after their legal student status was revoked. The university stated it would assist them in completing the semester remotely.
Philip Vasto, who shared a residence with one of the students, mentioned that his roommate, who was studying engineering management, did not participate in any protests and was not politically engaged. Nevertheless, his student status was terminated without any explanation. Since returning to Saudi Arabia, his primary concern has been securing admission to another university.
“He has come to terms with it,” Vasto remarked. “He wishes to prevent it from disrupting his tranquility any further.”
At the University of Texas at Austin, staff members reviewing a federal database found that two international students had lost their authorization to remain in the United States. One student from India had their legal status revoked on April 3, either due to a flagged criminal record or a visa issue. Another student from Lebanon lost their status on March 28 for similar reasons.
Both individuals were recent graduates employed full-time under a program designed to provide international students with professional experience. According to a source familiar with the situation, neither student had violated any regulations pertaining to their work permits.
Some students have had their visas canceled under a little-known statute that prohibits noncitizens whose presence could result in “serious adverse foreign policy consequences.” This law was referenced by Trump in a January directive aimed at addressing antisemitism on campuses.
Nevertheless, many of the students currently facing scrutiny do not appear to have any significant political affiliations. Some are being compelled to leave due to minor offenses or traffic violations, as noted by Feldblum—even when those incidents had already been reported to authorities.
Michelle Mittelstadt from the Migration Policy Institute indicated that many of these cases would not have raised alarms in the past. As legal disputes progress through the judicial system, the First Amendment rights of students may come under examination.
“In some respects, the actions of the administration are quite retroactive,” she stated.
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities is seeking a meeting with the State Department. While it remains uncertain whether visa revocations are occurring more frequently than in the past, educational institutions are concerned about the potential chilling effect on international education.
Numerous educational institutions have indicated that at least one student has experienced a loss of their visa, according to Bernie Burrola, a vice president of the association. Due to a lack of official guidance, some colleges are conducting interviews with students or monitoring their social media for indications of political engagement.
“The universities are struggling to uncover any links to Gaza, protests, or social media activity,” Burrola stated. “Some of these students receive funding from foreign governments that explicitly discourage political participation.”
There is no discernible trend regarding who is being targeted, although some affected students hail from the Middle East and China, he noted.
At Texas A&M, officials investigated three students who lost their visa status and discovered that some had only committed minor infractions—such as a resolved speeding ticket.
U.S. universities have historically been regarded as premier destinations for the most talented students globally, contributing significant tuition revenue and research expertise. However, students are now exploring alternative options, remarked Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an organization representing international educators.
“We should not take for granted that this situation will remain unchanged,” she emphasized.
