Trump revokes hundreds of international student visas, forcing rapid departures amid protests
Boston University students demand sanctuary campus on April 3, 2025 (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Hundreds of international students across the US are being forced to leave the country after the Trump administration revoked their visas, according to USA Today.
International students across several states, including California, Colorado, Michigan, and Florida, have reported abrupt cancellations of their visas - sometimes discovered only through an unexpected email or while checking the federal Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
At Colorado State University, 6 students lost their visas and were escorted to the airport.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst confirmed that five international students were affected and warned others to verify their immigration status.
"This is political," said Len Saunders, an immigration attorney in Washington state. "I've been doing this for 25 years and I've never seen 300 students lose their visas."
In many cases, the revocations appear to stem from minor incidents such as roommate disputes or off-campus traffic tickets, while others seem to be linked to pro-Palestinian activism.
Unlike most students affected in this wave, Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil was detained by federal authorities following his participation in pro-Palestinian activities.
Similarly, Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk was also taken into custody, highlighting a more aggressive approach in certain individual cases.
Officials defend revocations while universities offer support
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he personally revoked at least 300 student visas, referring to the individuals as "lunatics" due to their alleged pro-Palestinian support.
"It might be more than 300 at this point. We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas," Rubio stated at a press conference.
Universities say they’ve received no formal justification for the visa cancellations and are scrambling to help students navigate legal options.
"To date, no specific justification for the visa revocations has been provided to the impacted individuals or CSU," said Kathleen Fairfax, vice provost for international affairs at Colorado State University.
UMass-Amherst is offering emergency financial assistance through its Angel Fund, created during Trump’s first term to support students affected by immigration policies. Chancellor Javier Reyes, himself a former international student, reaffirmed support for the affected community.
The sudden crackdown has shaken higher education institutions and intensified fears about the future of free speech and international academic exchange in the US Amid rising deportation fears and surveillance, international students are now rethinking their plans to study in the United States.
