More than 1,000 international students across the United States have recently had their visas or legal status revoked, leading to heightened fears of deportation and detention. The actions, which have affected students from universities like Harvard, Stanford, the University of Maryland, and Ohio State University, have sparked a wave of lawsuits, with many students arguing that the Trump administration’s actions denied them due process.
According to an Associated Press review, at least 1,024 students from 160 universities and college systems have had their visas revoked or legal status terminated since late March. The revocations have left these students at risk of being detained and deported, with some even being forced to abandon their studies to avoid arrest.
The cancellations have drawn widespread criticism, as many affected students say they were targeted for minor infractions, including traffic violations from years ago, with some expressing confusion over why their visas were revoked at all. “The timing and uniformity of these terminations leave little question that DHS has adopted a nationwide policy, whether written or not, of mass termination of student (legal) status,” said attorneys from the ACLU of Michigan, representing students from Wayne State University and the University of Michigan.
Students have turned to the courts in an effort to stop the terminations, with several lawsuits now filed against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These lawsuits argue that the government had no legitimate reason to revoke their visas and claim that they were not given proper notice or a chance to contest the decision.
Among the cases being heard in federal courts, one involves a Dartmouth College student from China, Xiaotian Liu, whose legal status was terminated by DHS. A federal judge in New Hampshire recently issued a restraining order in his case, highlighting the growing legal backlash against the revocations. Similar lawsuits are underway in Georgia and California.
The reasons behind these visa terminations remain unclear. Colleges have raised concerns that some students are being unfairly targeted, while DHS has not responded to requests for comment. In high-profile cases, the Trump administration has argued that it should be allowed to deport noncitizens over their involvement in activism, including pro-Palestinian protests. However, many of the students affected by the recent visa revocations do not appear to have been involved in such activities.
The issue is rooted in the broader scrutiny the Trump administration has placed on immigration policy, which has been extended to international students. “What you’re seeing happening with international students is really a piece of the much greater scrutiny that the Trump administration is bringing to bear on immigrants of all different categories,” said Michelle Mittelstadt, director of public affairs at the Migration Policy Institute.
For students in the US on F-1 visas, the process to gain and maintain legal status is complex. They must show proof of financial support and remain in good academic standing to keep their student status. In the past, students whose visas were revoked were allowed to finish their studies, though they were prohibited from re-entering the country without reapplying for a visa. Now, with the recent actions by DHS, these students face the added threat of deportation, and some have already fled the country to avoid arrest.
The legal uncertainty has created a sense of fear among international students, who now worry that a minor mistake could result in the sudden loss of their legal status. Sarah Spreitzer, Vice President of Government Relations at the American Council on Education, explained the anxiety these actions have caused. “The very public actions that are being taken by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security around some of these students… that’s not usually done unless there is a security issue,” she said.
Colleges have been scrambling to reassure their students, many of whom feel uncertain about their futures in the US. University leaders have called for more clarity from the federal government and have reminded international students to carry necessary documentation when traveling, including passports and immigration papers.
As the situation continues to unfold, university leaders like University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco have expressed deep concern over the rapidly changing landscape. “These are unprecedented times, and our normal guiding principles for living in a democratic society are being challenged,” he wrote in an email to the campus community, referring to the two students at UMass Boston who had their legal residency status revoked.
With the growing number of visa terminations and ongoing legal challenges, the fate of thousands of international students remains uncertain, leaving many to question the future of the US as a welcoming destination for higher education.