In a broad immigration enforcement effort, the Trump administration has revoked the visas of over 300 international students and detained dozens on college campuses across the United States. Videos circulating online show plain-clothes ICE officers detaining students near their homes, causing widespread concern among student communities and drawing criticism from civil rights organizations.
The U.S. State Department, under Secretary Marco Rubio, cited national security as the main reason for the revocations. According to Rubio, the action targeted individuals engaged in behavior deemed contrary to U.S. national interests. Many of the affected students had participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, while others faced minor legal issues such as traffic infractions or misdemeanors. Immigration attorneys argue that visas are being revoked without prior notice or explanation, and students are not being given the chance to appeal the decision. Critics have labeled this approach both legally and ethically troubling.
More than 80 universities have reported incidents of visa cancellations, according to a tracker maintained by Inside Higher Ed. Institutions affected include Ivy League schools like Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Stanford, as well as large public universities such as the University of Florida, Texas A&M, and campuses within the University of California system. Arizona State University reported the cancellation of at least eight student visas, while UC campuses reported 57 cases.
Alongside these revocations, some students and even legal permanent residents have been taken into custody and sent to immigration detention centers. In one high-profile case, Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Columbia graduate and green card holder, was arrested in his university housing. In another, Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University, was detained by ICE agents while on her way to a Ramadan event. Advocacy groups have raised alarm over the nature of these arrests, many of which have been carried out without warrants, often by agents in plain clothes and using unmarked vehicles.
Multiple students have filed lawsuits against the federal government, arguing that the visa cancellations and detentions were unlawful. One case involves Xiaotian Liu, a Chinese PhD student at Dartmouth College, who has partnered with the ACLU of New Hampshire to challenge the administration. Liu asserts he was not involved in any protests and has no criminal history. The lawsuits claim violations of constitutional rights, including freedom of speech and protection against unlawful detention.
With over 1.1 million international students currently in the United States, these developments have caused fear and uncertainty across college campuses, raising serious concerns about civil liberties and due process.
