The Trump administration has revoked the visas of more than 1,000 international students and recent graduates across over 130 U.S. colleges and universities this year, part of a sweeping immigration crackdown that has left many institutions and students without clear explanations.
Universities in 40 states confirmed to CNN that their students’ visa statuses were terminated in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), often without prior notice or reasons provided by the government.
Middle Tennessee State University reported six visa revocations involving students from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. “The University does not know the specific reason(s) for the visa status changes, only that they were changed within the federal database,” said spokesperson Jimmy Hart.
Similar situations have unfolded at other institutions. At the University of Oregon, four international students lost their visa status due to “unspecified criminal charges,” according to spokesperson Eric Howald. The university, like many others, received no details from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Some cases have involved serious allegations, such as connections to terrorist groups, but others involve minor infractions, including old misdemeanors. Despite this, many students have been left in legal limbo, unsure if they must leave the country or are allowed to continue their studies.
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) said 12 of its current or former students were affected. Chancellor Julio Frenk noted that DHS cited violations of visa program terms but did not elaborate further.
Senator Marco Rubio defended the administration’s actions, stating that international students should focus on academics and not activism. “They’re here to go to class,” he said, “not to lead activist movements that are disruptive and undermine our universities.”
In response to the escalating number of unexplained visa revocations, a federal lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The complaint includes 133 international students from countries like India, China, Mexico, Colombia, and Japan. They are identified using pseudonyms to avoid potential retaliation.
The lawsuit names three officials from the Trump administration as defendants: Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons. It accuses ICE of unlawfully stripping students of their legal status without due process, jeopardizing their education, employment, and freedom.
Plaintiffs allege the removals from SEVIS were abrupt and unjustified. The White House and DHS have not commented on the matter.
Senator Rubio previously revealed that over 300 visas — mostly student and visitor — had been revoked as of March.
One of the most high-profile cases involves Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate with U.S. permanent residency, accused of supporting a terrorist organization.
As the lawsuit unfolds, students and universities alike are left searching for answers — and hoping for justice.
