The Trump administration has revoked the visas of over 1,000 international students and recent graduates across the US, leaving them facing the threat of deportation. These students, enrolled at more than 130 universities in 40 states, are caught in the middle of an increasingly aggressive immigration policy, with little to no explanation from the government.
At Middle Tennessee State University, six students from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East had their visas revoked without prior notice.
“The University does not know the specific reason(s) for the visa status changes, only that they were changed within the federal database that monitors them,” said university spokesperson Jimmy Hart.
This uncertainty is echoed at many other institutions. Harvard Medical School, the University of Oregon, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have all confirmed similar visa terminations, but have received no clear explanation from federal authorities. For example, the University of Oregon revealed that four international students had their visas revoked based on “unspecified criminal charges,” but the university was not informed in advance and remains in the dark about the nature of these charges.
The lack of transparency is leaving students and universities scrambling to understand why these actions are being taken. While many are left uncertain about whether they must leave the country immediately or if they can continue their studies, some are taking legal action to challenge these abrupt changes.
A federal lawsuit, filed in the US District Court of Northern Georgia, represents 133 foreign students who are suing the Trump administration to stop these visa revocations and reinstate those who have already been affected. According to the lawsuit, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has removed these students from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), effectively stripping them of their legal right to stay in the country. The lawsuit argues that this has put the students at risk of arrest, detention, and deportation.
The Trump administration has justified these actions as part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that certain behaviors, such as participating in protests, will not be tolerated. “They’re here to go to class. They’re not here to lead activist movements that are disruptive and undermine our universities,” Rubio said.
Despite these tough statements, many students say they were unaware of any violations that would justify the revocation of their visas. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) reported that 12 of its students were affected by the terminations. Chancellor Julio Frenk stated, “The termination notices indicate that all terminations were due to violations of the terms of the individuals’ visa programs,” but offered no further details.
The crackdown also includes high-profile cases involving foreign nationals accused of supporting terrorism. One such case is Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia graduate, who has been targeted by the administration despite holding a green card.
