Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Apr 5: A rising number of colleges and universities across the United States are sounding the alarm over what they describe as an unprecedented crackdown on international students under the Trump administration, warning that the move could tarnish the country's image as a global education hub.
In recent weeks, dozens of foreign students have seen their visas abruptly revoked, often with little or no explanation. In many instances, they have been asked to leave the country immediately a sharp shift from previous practices that typically allowed students to complete their academic programs before facing any legal action.
Some students have allegedly been penalized for minor infractions such as traffic violations, while others reportedly faced consequences due to their participation in pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses.
At Minnesota State University in Mankato, university president Edward Inch confirmed that five international students had their visas revoked. “These are troubling times, and this situation is unlike any we have navigated before,” Inch said in a campus-wide communication.
The development follows US President Donald Trump's renewed pledge to deport foreign students involved in anti-Israel protests. One of the first high-profile cases involved Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and activist, who holds permanent US residency.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later stated that visa revocations were being issued against students linked to "potential criminal activity," particularly in relation to campus demonstrations.
University officials from prominent institutions including Arizona State, Cornell, North Carolina State, the University of Oregon, and the University of Texas have reported a surge in such cases, with many left stunned by the sudden and opaque nature of the actions.
Miriam Feldblum, CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, said the shift marks a break from standard protocol. “None of this is regular practice,” she said, noting that in several cases, students' legal status was cancelled without any prior notice to the respective universities.
At North Carolina State University, two Saudi students were forced to leave the country after learning their student status had been revoked. “He’s made his peace with it,” said Philip Vasto, a friend of one of the students. “He doesn’t want to allow it to steal his peace any further.”
A similar situation unfolded at the University of Texas at Austin, where students from India and Lebanon — both graduate-level engineers working under legal student visa provisions — were found to have lost status without any prior violation on record.
Reports suggest that many of the removals are being carried out under a seldom-used law allowing deportation if an individual’s presence is deemed to have “serious adverse foreign policy consequences.” Trump invoked the provision in a January executive order aimed at curbing antisemitic activity on campuses.
Michelle Mittelstadt of the Migration Policy Institute said the crackdown could face legal scrutiny, especially over concerns related to free speech and due process. “Rather than setting future standards, the administration seems to be retroactively targeting students based on past expression,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities has reached out to the US State Department, expressing concern over the chilling impact on educational exchange programs. Bernie Burrola, a vice president at the association, said that even students sponsored by foreign governments — typically disinclined to participate in protests — have not been spared.
While students from various countries are being affected, many of the targeted individuals are reportedly from the Middle East and China.
Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, warned that the ongoing uncertainty could push international students to choose more welcoming destinations. “We should not take for granted that the US will always be seen as the default destination for global education,” she said.
With mounting pressure from academia, the government is facing calls for transparency and restraint — even as concerns grow over the impact of domestic politics on international educational ties.