College Across US Reports Surge In Revoke Visa For International Students (image-harvard.edu)

Several colleges across the US have reported that many of the international students’ visas were revoked unexpectedly, even without notifying the universities they study at. This alarming rate of incidents has raised concern over increased government scrutiny.

In the US, visas can be cancelled for a number of reasons. However, the colleges have said that the government has been quietly terminating students’ legal residency status with little notice to students or schools. This sudden shift from the past practices leaves the students vulnerable to detention and deportation.

Read also: How Nithyananda’s Fake Hindu Nation Attempted To Seize Indigenous Land In Bolivia

Many of the well-known institutions including Harvard, Stanford, Michigan, UCLA and Ohio State University areaffected. The Trump administration has been targeting students who were involved in Pro-Palestine rallies or speeches. And high-profile detention of students includes Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder who was the leader of protests at Columbia University. But as of now, more schools are seeing their students’ visas being revoked. And in some cases, traffic violations are cited as their reason for their deportation.

As per the Guardian report, an online self-reported data sheet created by students suggests that the issue may be more widespread. Students from 50 universities report their visas were cancelled around 4 April.

Many college officials and students only found out about the changes to immigration status when they were checking the federal databases. The international students typically obtain F-1 visas after meeting specific requirements, including demonstrating financial support and remaining in good academic standing.

Read also: New Russian Law Bans Influencers From Advertising On Meta, X Platforms: Report

The students who have their visas revoked were allowed to keep their legal residency status and complete their studies. The lack of a valid visa only limited their ability to leave the US and return, something they could reapply for with the State Department. But if a student’s residency status is lost, he/she will have to leave immediately or else risk detention by immigration authorities.

Moreover, the higher education leaders worry the arrests and revocations could have a chilling effect on international education in the United States.