Student Visas: A Crackdown on Dissent

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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Student Visa Revocations

The Trump administration has revoked thousands of international student visas. Reasons cited include overstays, breaking the law, and, in a small minority of cases, “support for terrorism.” Hundreds of international student visas have been revoked. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been “cracking down” on international students (kvue.com). Over 100 international students at Texas universities alone have had their legal statuses changed. This happened in a wave of removals from a federal database (newswest9.com).

The reasons for these revocations are often not formally communicated to the universities or the students themselves. For example, Ohio State University confirmed at least seven students had their F-1 visas revoked without explanation. The university was not formally notified of the federal government’s actions or why the visas were revoked (10tv.com). Students might not receive a notification from the State Department if their visa has been revoked (newswest9.com). The United States government has broad discretion to revoke visas, including student visas (immigrationforum.org). The State Department continuously checks visa holders. This is to ensure they follow all US laws and immigration rules. They will revoke visas and deport individuals if they do not (cnn.com). Some foreign students say the first notice they received about their visa revocation was not from ICE but their school (cnn.com).

Understanding the F-1 Visa

The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa. It allows international students to pursue academic studies and language training programs in the United States. This is the most common type of student visa. It is for those attending colleges, universities, high schools, private elementary schools, seminaries, conservatories, and other academic institutions, including language training programs (immigrationforum.org). The United States government has broad discretion to revoke visas, including student visas (immigrationforum.org). The State Department continuously checks visa holders to ensure they follow all US laws and immigration rules. They will revoke their visas and deport them if they do not (cnn.com). Some foreign students say the first notice they received about their visa revocation was not from ICE but their school (cnn.com).

“Duration of Status” (D/S) refers to the period during which an F-1 student is authorized to remain in the United States. Unlike other visa categories with fixed expiration dates, D/S allows F-1 students to stay as long as they maintain their non-immigrant student status. This includes being enrolled in a full course of study, making normal progress toward a degree, and adhering to all immigration regulations. This status typically extends for the duration of their academic program, any approved practical training (like OPT), and a grace period afterward. A SEVIS termination does not automatically terminate a student’s lawful status. However, it does make the student “subject to removal,” exposing them to future legal peril (immigrationforum.org). Students at Michigan universities have initiated legal actions against the Department of Homeland Security. They allege that their F-1 statuses were terminated without sufficient notice or explanation (aljazeera.com). In urgent situations, students may request temporary restraining orders. This is to prevent deportation and reinstate their status while legal proceedings are ongoing (aljazeera.com).

OPT and Expedited Removal

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a temporary employment authorization. It allows F-1 student visa holders to gain practical experience directly related to their major field of study. It can be undertaken either during their academic program (pre-completion OPT) or, more commonly, after completing their degree (post-completion OPT). Most F-1 students are eligible for up to 12 months of OPT. Those with degrees in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields may be eligible for an additional 24-month extension (STEM OPT). The United States government has broad discretion to revoke visas, including student visas (immigrationforum.org). A SEVIS termination does not automatically terminate a student’s lawful status. However, it does make the student “subject to removal,” exposing them to future legal peril (immigrationforum.org). Many universities are actively assisting affected students. They provide legal resources, liaise with federal authorities, and offer academic accommodations (aljazeera.com).

Expedited removal is a process in U.S. immigration law. It allows immigration officers to quickly remove certain non-citizens from the United States without a formal hearing before an immigration judge. It is typically applied to individuals who are inadmissible to the U.S. and have been apprehended at a port of entry or within 100 miles of the border. This also applies to those who have been in the U.S. for less than 14 days. The Trump administration expanded the scope of expedited removal. This allowed it to be applied to individuals found anywhere in the U.S. who could not prove continuous physical presence for two years. The United States government has broad discretion to revoke visas, including student visas (immigrationforum.org). A SEVIS termination does not automatically terminate a student’s lawful status. However, it does make the student “subject to removal,” exposing them to future legal peril (immigrationforum.org). In urgent situations, students may request temporary restraining orders. This is to prevent deportation and reinstate their status while legal proceedings are ongoing (aljazeera.com).

“Support for Terrorism” and SEVIS

“Support for terrorism” is a serious ground for visa revocation under U.S. immigration law. This can encompass a wide range of activities, not just direct involvement in terrorist acts. It can include providing material support (financial, logistical, or otherwise) to designated terrorist organizations or individuals. It can also include engaging in propaganda or recruitment for such groups, or even expressing views that are deemed to endorse or incite terrorist activities. The interpretation and application of this ground can be broad. Specific examples or data on its frequency of application in student visa revocations are not publicly available. This leads to concerns about its potential for broad interpretation. The United States government has broad discretion to revoke visas, including student visas (immigrationforum.org). The State Department continuously checks visa holders to ensure they follow all US laws and immigration rules. They will revoke their visas and deport them if they do not (cnn.com). Many universities are actively assisting affected students. They provide legal resources, liaise with federal authorities, and offer academic accommodations (aljazeera.com).

The federal database referenced is likely the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). SEVIS is a web-based system used by the U.S. government to maintain information on F-1 (academic), M-1 (vocational), and J-1 (exchange visitor) non-immigrants and their dependents. It tracks their status from the moment they are issued a visa until they depart the U.S. Designated School Officials (DSOs) at universities are required to update and access SEVIS. This is to manage international student records, including enrollment, changes in status, and program completion. Universities often rely on SEVIS for real-time updates. Formal, direct notifications from ICE or the State Department regarding individual student visa revocations are often not provided, or are delayed. This forces universities to proactively check SEVIS to ascertain the status of their international students. The University of Massachusetts Amherst campus has seen 13 students have their status terminated. University leaders have urged international students to monitor their email for revocation notices. School officials are now logging onto SEVIS each morning to see if their students have been terminated (bostonglobe.com). After four students and two recent graduates of Stanford University in California had their student visas rescinded, the “University learned of the revocations during a routine check of the SEVIS database” (cnn.com). No public database exists that provides international student visa data (insidehighered.com).

First Amendment Rights and Antisemitic Social Media

While the First Amendment generally protects freedom of speech for all individuals physically present in the U.S., including non-citizens, these protections are not absolute for international students on visas. The U.S. government retains broad authority over immigration matters. Certain speech or conduct, particularly if deemed to violate visa terms, pose a national security risk, or constitute material support for terrorism, can lead to visa revocation or denial of entry. For F-1 students, maintaining their non-immigrant status is paramount. Engaging in activities that could be interpreted as violating immigration laws or promoting unlawful behavior can have severe consequences. This is true even if such speech might be protected for a U.S. citizen. The legal complexities arise from balancing constitutional rights with the government’s sovereign power to control who enters and remains in the country. The United States government has broad discretion to revoke visas, including student visas (immigrationforum.org). The State Department continuously checks visa holders to ensure they follow all US laws and immigration rules. They will revoke their visas and deport them if they do not (cnn.com). Many universities are actively assisting affected students. They provide legal resources, liaise with federal authorities, and offer academic accommodations (aljazeera.com).

The use of “antisemitic social media engagement” as a basis for visa denial or revocation is a recent development. This is particularly true in the context of increased scrutiny of international students’ online activities. The specifics of how “antisemitic” content is defined, what constitutes “engagement,” and how it is monitored or adjudicated are not always clear. This lack of clarity can lead to concerns about arbitrary enforcement. The administration has stated it will deny visas for antisemitic social media engagement (11alive.com). Critics argue that it’s “quite a leap” to suggest that someone who says something positive about defending Palestine is a threat to national security. They also argue that international students have First Amendment rights to voice their opinions (newswest9.com).

Broader Immigration Policies and University Responses

The crackdown on international student visas appears to be linked to the Trump administration’s broader immigration policies. It also seems to target students involved in protests, particularly those supporting Palestine. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been cracking down on international students. This appears to include students at the University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University (kvue.com). There’s a concern that anything international students do in the public forum “can and will be used against you under this administration” (firstcoastnews.com).

Universities across the U.S. are grappling with the unexpected changes in international student visa statuses. They are working to support their students within legal frameworks. The University of Texas at Austin confirmed that the visa status of multiple international students has “unexpectedly changed in recent days” (kvue.com). Universities like Kennesaw State University are closely following developments related to international students and their visas. They are committed to doing everything they can to legally support their students while following federal and state regulations (11alive.com). University leaders often learn about the cancellation of legal status for international students when checking a database run by the DHS. This happens rather than through formal notification (kvue.com).

Impact on Higher Education

The decline in foreign students not only threatens to disrupt the financial models of US colleges and universities. It could also result in a decline in research output and innovation. The Trump administration’s actions against higher education have seen the number of people arriving in the US on student visas fall dramatically. This has also prompted universities in Europe and elsewhere to increase research grants to attract this talent. The United States government has broad discretion to revoke visas, including student visas (immigrationforum.org). The State Department continuously checks visa holders to ensure they follow all US laws and immigration rules. They will revoke their visas and deport them if they do not (cnn.com). Many universities are actively assisting affected students. They provide legal resources, liaise with federal authorities, and offer academic accommodations (aljazeera.com).

The lack of formal notification for visa revocations creates significant challenges for students and universities. Students may not know their visa has been revoked until they attempt to re-enter the country or are informed by their university. This lack of transparency can lead to confusion and distress. It also makes it difficult for students to appeal decisions or seek legal recourse. Universities are left to piece together information from federal databases. This makes it harder to provide timely support to their international students. This situation highlights the need for clearer communication channels between government agencies and educational institutions. It also underscores the importance of due process for international students. The current approach leaves many questions unanswered. It also creates an environment of uncertainty for those pursuing education in the U.S.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.