Trump Administration Revokes Hundreds of Student Visas, Forcing Swift Departures

The Trump administration has revoked the visas of hundreds of international students across the U.S., triggering a wave of confusion and urgent departures. Many students were given just days to leave the country, with some discovering the news through unexpected emails, text messages, or system notifications.

Universities nationwide have been caught off-guard, with multiple institutions confirming cases but declining to share details due to student privacy concerns. The federal Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) has been the main channel for visa status updates.

Immigration advocates and legal experts are raising red flags over the scale and abruptness of the move, which they say is unprecedented. The National Immigration Project is now challenging the cancellations, which have affected students in states including California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Massachusetts.

Although the cancellations affect a small portion of the estimated 1.5 million international students in the U.S., the ripple effects have been significant. University officials say the revocations range from minor infractions—like off-campus traffic violations or personal disputes—to participation in pro-Palestinian protests.

“This is unlike anything I’ve seen in my 25 years of immigration law,” said Len Saunders, an attorney in Washington state. “Canceling 300 visas out of nowhere—it’s clearly political.”

President Trump, who reclaimed the White House on a hardline immigration platform, has faced criticism for targeting international students. Some conservative figures have alleged that countries like China send students to the U.S. to steal intellectual property. However, international students typically pay full tuition, contributing significantly to university budgets.

California hosts the largest number of these students, with top fields of study including computer science, business, and languages. Students from China and India make up nearly half of the international student population.

There’s no centralized data on how many students have been affected, but several appear to be Middle Eastern and were involved in campus activism. While students have occasionally lost visas in the past due to criminal offenses, they were usually allowed to complete their education.

This time, students close to graduation have had to abruptly leave. At the University of Michigan, officials are working to help one student finish his master’s in architecture after being forced to return home.

The current wave of visa revocations differs from high-profile detentions like those of Columbia University’s Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts University’s Rümeysa Öztürk. In this case, students are not being detained but are required to self-deport within seven days, sparking protests on campuses like the University of Arizona.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed last month that at least 300 visas have been revoked. He referred to the students involved as "lunatics" for their pro-Palestinian activities—speech that is generally protected under the First Amendment.

“It might be more than 300 now. We’re doing it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I revoke their visa,” Rubio said during a press conference.

At Colorado State University, six students lost their visas. University officials accompanied some to the airport. The right to appeal these cancellations remains unclear.

“No explanation for the revocations has been provided,” said Kathleen Fairfax, CSU’s vice provost for international affairs. “We’re helping students access legal support and understand their options.”

The University of Massachusetts-Amherst also confirmed five visa cancellations. Chancellor Javier Reyes, himself a former international student from Mexico, offered aid through the university’s Angel Fund—created during Trump’s first term to help those affected by immigration changes.

“Our higher education system is the envy of the world,” Reyes said. “We will stand with our international students through this.”

NYU professor Robert Cohen, who researches protest movements, condemned the actions as an attempt to suppress dissent.

“This shows Trump and his allies don’t truly believe in free speech,” Cohen said. “Targeting students for peaceful protest is un-American.”

The American Council on Education and 15 other higher education organizations have demanded a federal briefing, emphasizing the importance of transparency.

“Recent actions have created confusion and hinder our ability to advise international students,” the groups wrote in an April 4 letter to Rubio. “We need to reassure students so they can continue making vital contributions to our campuses and communities.”