A new enforcement strategy by the Trump administration is causing concerns among U.S. colleges, which report that foreign students are facing sudden deportations due to an unclear approach by the government. University officials warn that this development might deter international students from pursuing education in the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security has begun ordering students, whose entry visas have been annulled, to swiftly depart the country. Historically, affected students were typically allowed to remain in the U.S. to complete their studies. Now, students are being targeted for various reasons including pro-Palestinian activism, minor criminal offenses, and even traffic violations, leaving many unsure about their violations.
At Minnesota State University in Mankato, President Edward Inch informed the campus that visa cancellations affected five international students under ambiguous circumstances. These revocations came to light following a database check of international student statuses after the detention of a Turkish student at the University of Minnesota. The State Department cited a DUI conviction as the reason for the student’s detention. Inch described this situation as unprecedented in a message to the campus community.
Under Trump’s campaign promises, foreign students participating in pro-Palestinian protests faced potential deportation, with federal agents initiating the process by arresting Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student and Palestinian activist at Columbia University. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that students involved in protests and others associated with potential criminal activities are now under scrutiny.
The recent expansion of this crackdown has seen colleges nationwide discovering that international students are having their visas revoked and legal residency statuses terminated without prior notice. Affected institutions include Arizona State, Cornell, North Carolina State, the University of Oregon, the University of Texas, and the University of Colorado. Some students are willingly leaving the country, while others at Tufts and the University of Alabama have been detained by immigration authorities.
In this enforcement wave, the federal government reportedly bypasses colleges by directly altering foreign students’ records. Miriam Feldblum, President and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, noted the unprecedented swiftness with which students are now being ordered to exit the country. Previously, students whose visas were canceled retained their residency status and could remain in the U.S. for studies while requiring a visa renewal upon reentry into the country. However, more students are now seeing their legal statuses terminated, leaving them vulnerable to arrest.
North Carolina State University reported that two Saudi Arabian students left the U.S. after their student statuses were terminated. The university plans to assist them in completing their semester remotely. Philip Vasto, a roommate of one affected student, mentioned that his roommate did not participate in political protests and was not given a reason for the status termination.
The University of Texas at Austin discovered two students—one from India and the other from Lebanon—lost their legal statuses due to criminal records checks. Both graduates were using student visas for professional experience, without apparent requirement violations. Some students are affected by an obscure law citing foreign policy consequences, invoked by Trump to combat campus antisemitism.
Michelle Mittelstadt, from the Migration Policy Institute, suggested that the administration’s retrospective actions might test students’ First Amendment rights in court. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities is seeking dialogue with the State Department, expressing concerns about a potential chilling effect on international student exchanges.
Many universities have experienced visa revocations recently. Bernie Burrola, a vice president of the association, noted efforts to link students’ issues to political activism through interviews or social media searches, often to no avail. These students, including some from the Middle East and China, might not always be involved in activism, especially those sponsored by hesitant foreign governments.
The U.S. has long been a favored destination for international students, providing significant tuition revenue and research contributions. However, Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, cautions against assuming this trend will naturally continue, emphasizing that students have alternative study options globally.
