A sweeping move by the Trump administration has stunned universities and rattled international students across the United States, as more than 500 student visas have been revoked in recent weeks—often without prior notice, legal proceedings, or explanation. Affected students hail from prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, the University of Chicago, and several campuses of the University of California, including UCLA and Berkeley.
At UCLA alone, a dozen students and recent graduates have lost their visas, while at UC Berkeley, at least six have been affected. Harvard reported revocations for three current students and two alumni, while Stanford confirmed similar numbers. Visa cancellations have also hit Ohio State University, the University of Michigan, Southern Illinois University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Arizona State University, among others.
Politically Active Students Targeted
Though official government agencies have remained largely silent, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the visa cancellations are part of an effort to identify students allegedly supporting terrorist organizations, particularly through pro-Palestinian activism. Rubio has claimed that his AI-powered app “Catch and Revoke” has flagged more than 300 students.
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Students have reportedly been penalized for actions as minor as participating in peaceful demonstrations, sharing or liking social media posts, or even having outdated or minor legal violations, such as traffic infractions. Critics argue this constitutes ideological profiling and a violation of the students’ rights to free speech under the First Amendment.
Universities Left in the Dark
Many universities first discovered the cancellations during routine reviews of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). In most cases, neither institutions nor students received formal notification in advance, making it nearly impossible to respond or appeal. The University of Michigan confirmed one student had to leave the US immediately, while others await uncertain outcomes.
The University of California system is providing legal support and has publicly pledged to monitor developments. UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk reassured the community that the university “stands by its international students,” and Harvard and Stanford have echoed similar sentiments.
At the University of Chicago, instructional staff and postdoctoral researchers voiced alarm, with some calling the action “unconstitutional.” Affected students and alumni include individuals from South Asia, the Middle East, and China—many of them Muslim.
Detentions and Deportations
What sets this wave apart is not just its scale but the intensity of enforcement. Several students have already been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), some caught near their homes or while heading to university events. Viral videos show plainclothes officers arresting students in unmarked cars, with no formal charges provided.
The recently introduced CBP (Customs and Border Protection) app is being used to notify students to “self-deport.” Students whose visas were cancelled must leave the US immediately or face detention. Legal status is now revoked in real-time, with no grace period or appeal process, a stark departure from previous norms.
One student from the University of Florida was detained over a minor traffic violation. Another, a Turkish student at Tufts, was surrounded and arrested by ICE while walking to a Ramadan celebration.
Legal and Human Rights Challenges
Numerous legal battles are now underway. Students, with the support of organizations like the ACLU, have filed lawsuits against the federal government, arguing that their civil rights have been violated. A Dartmouth PhD student from China, Xiaotian Liu, is suing after his visa was revoked despite having no criminal record or protest involvement.
Meanwhile, student organizations, academics, and human rights advocates continue to raise alarm. The ACLU warned against ideological vetting by the state, and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey condemned the move as “completely unacceptable.”
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With over 1.1 million international students contributing nearly $44 billion annually to the US economy, this crackdown threatens to erode trust in American higher education. As fear spreads across campuses, the global academic community is left wondering if the US is still a safe and welcoming place for international scholars.