US Student Visa Cancellations: Hundreds of International Students Affected Across American Universities

April 11, 2025

In a sweeping crackdown on international students, the Trump administration has revoked hundreds of student visas across the United States, leaving universities scrambling to understand the scope and rationale behind the actions while affected students face deportation.

Widespread Impact

Over the past month, more than 300 international students have had their visas revoked, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who confirmed these actions in late March. An Inside Higher Ed analysis tracked visa terminations affecting at least 147 students across 48 institutions as of early April, with numbers continuing to rise.

The list of affected schools spans prestigious private universities and large public institutions alike. Harvard University reported that three students and two recent graduates had their visas revoked. Stanford, UCLA, Michigan, and Ohio State University are also among the institutions where student visas have been terminated.

According to ABC News, other significantly impacted universities include:

Arizona State University (at least eight students)
Colorado State University (six students)
University of Massachusetts Boston (seven students)
University of Michigan (four students)
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (four students)

In California alone, multiple University of California campuses have reported affected students. UC Davis indicated that visas of seven students and five recent graduates were voided, while UC San Diego reported five affected students.

Reasons for Cancellations

The visa revocations appear to fall into several categories, though in many cases universities report that neither they nor the students have been given clear explanations.

Immigration experts note that while the Department of Homeland Security has publicized many deportation efforts, the actual visa revocation process is handled by the State Department, which has been more tight-lipped about specific cases.

Three primary justifications have emerged:

1. Political Activism

The earliest high-profile cases focused on students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests on campuses. Secretary Rubio publicly questioned why "any country in the world" would allow people to enter and "disrupt college campuses," stating bluntly: "We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to be a social activist that comes in and tears up our university campuses."

For these cases, the administration has invoked a provision from the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 that allows the Secretary of State to deport non-citizens if their presence might result in "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences" for the United States.

2. Minor Legal Infractions

An increasing number of visa cancellations involve relatively minor offenses, according to immigration attorneys. In some cases, these are years-old misdemeanors or even dismissed charges.

At Texas A&M University, officials looking into why three students had their status terminated found they had long-resolved offenses on their records, including one with a speeding ticket. Many college officials report that minor traffic violations, sometimes dismissed by courts years ago, have put students into criminal databases that ICE appears to be scrutinizing for targets.

One student at the University of Minnesota, Doğukan Günaydin from Turkey, was detained based on a 2023 drunk driving conviction that had already been disclosed and processed during his previous visa renewals.

3. Unexplained Terminations

In many cases, no explanation has been provided at all. The University of California, Davis stated plainly: "The federal government has not explained the reasons behind these terminations."

At Harvard University, officials indicated they were "not aware of the details of the revocations or the reasons for them" when reporting that five community members had their visas revoked.

Countries of Origin

While comprehensive data on the nationalities of affected students hasn't been released, several countries have been prominently mentioned in reports:

Students from Saudi Arabia, China, and various Middle Eastern countries appear to be among those targeted. Two Saudi Arabian students at North Carolina State University had their legal status terminated without explanation and have since returned to Saudi Arabia.

Other identified cases include Xiaotian Liu, a 26-year-old doctoral student from China at Dartmouth College; Ranjani Srinavasan, a doctoral student from India at Columbia University; Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University; and Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian doctoral student at the University of Alabama.

Immigration attorneys and university administrators have expressed particular concern about students from countries that might be included in a potential expanded travel ban. According to a guidance document from Cornell University's International Services office, the countries potentially affected include those targeted in the first Trump administration (Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Sudan, Tanzania, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Somalia), with the possibility of adding China and India to the list.

Process and Legal Challenges

The process of these visa revocations represents a significant departure from past practices, according to university officials and immigration experts.

Typically, universities rather than the government would enter changes to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database. However, in recent weeks, universities have found records terminated by the government without clear reasons or recourse for appeal or corrections.

Students whose visas have been revoked are receiving orders from the Department of Homeland Security to leave the country immediately—a break from past practice that often permitted them to stay and complete their studies even if their entry visa was revoked.

Some affected students have begun filing lawsuits challenging these actions:

Xiaotian Liu, the Dartmouth doctoral student from China, has sued with the help of the ACLU of New Hampshire, alleging his due process rights were violated.
A federal judge in New Hampshire granted Liu's request for a temporary restraining order, preventing his immediate deportation.
Two unnamed students at California colleges reportedly filed lawsuits over the weekend alleging unlawful government overreach.

Impact on Higher Education

The visa cancellations could have far-reaching implications for American higher education and its standing as a global destination for international students.

International students contribute significantly to the U.S. economy, with an estimated 1 million international students generating more than $40 billion for American higher education each year.

International student enrollment is already showing signs of decline. Chris Glass, a professor at Boston College, analyzed enrollment data and found that the number of new international students fell this year by more than 11 percent, or 130,000 students—a sharp reversal from prior trends and a potential loss of around $4 billion in revenue.

University officials worry that the current actions, combined with potential visa restrictions for new applicants and research funding cuts, could accelerate this decline.

Response from Higher Education

College and university leaders have expressed alarm at what they see as a troubling shift in government approach to international students.

University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco wrote in an email to the campus community: "These are unprecedented times, and our normal guiding principles for living in a democratic society are being challenged. With the rate and depth of changes occurring, we must be thoughtful in how we best prepare, protect, and respond."

A coalition of 15 national higher-education associations has requested meetings with officials from the Departments of State and Homeland Security to seek clarity on the situation.

Many universities have begun advising their international students to carry all documentation when traveling, avoid minor infractions, and consult with immigration attorneys if they have concerns about their status.

As this situation continues to develop, thousands of international students across the country remain in limbo, unsure of their academic futures in the United States.

SIDEBAR: Why The Top 3 Universities Are Hardest Hit

The dramatic wave of student visa cancellations hasn't affected all universities equally. The institutions seeing the highest numbers of revocations share a common trait: exceptionally large populations of international students from the countries most targeted in the current crackdown.

Arizona State University (50+ Students Affected)

ASU has become a magnet for international students, particularly from India. According to university officials, ASU hosts approximately 12,000 international students, with more than half (6,400) coming from India alone. This extraordinary concentration of Indian students helps explain why ASU leads the nation in visa cancellations.

The university also maintains strong ties with Saudi Arabia, another country whose students have been disproportionately affected. ASU's Saudi student population grew from just 24 students in 2005 to 785 by 2017, with significant numbers studying engineering and business.

Students from 133 countries attend ASU, but the majority of its international student body comes from precisely the three countries most affected by the current visa revocations: China, India, and Saudi Arabia.

Northeastern University (40 Students Affected)

Northeastern's high ranking on the list is similarly driven by its international student demographics. With approximately 6,687 international students—about 29% of its total student population—Northeastern ranks as the 4th most popular U.S. university for international students.

The university is particularly favored by Indian students, ranking 2nd nationally for popularity among students from India, with approximately 2,000 Indian students enrolled. This concentration explains why Northeastern appears near the top of the list for visa cancellations.

University of California System (35 Students Affected)

The UC system has seen significant shifts in its international student population in recent years. While Chinese student enrollment declined sharply, it was partially offset by increased enrollment of Indian students. This pattern mirrors the national trend of growing Indian student enrollment at U.S. universities.

Individual UC campuses have varying concentrations of international students. UC Irvine, for example, ranks 7th nationally for popularity among Chinese students and 91st for Indian students. Meanwhile, UCLA ranks 8th for Chinese student enrollment, 55th for Indian students, and has approximately 33 Saudi Arabian students.

Overall, California attracts more international students than any other state, with 138,393 international students in 2022/23, and Chinese students account for 37.5% of this population, followed by Indian students at 18.4%.

Pattern of Vulnerability

These universities share key characteristics that make them especially vulnerable to the current wave of visa cancellations:

High overall numbers of international students
Strong concentrations of students from China, India, and Saudi Arabia
Popular STEM and business programs that attract international applicants
Established recruitment pipelines from the affected countries

As the visa cancellations continue, these institutions face not only immediate disruptions to their student communities but potentially significant financial impacts due to the higher tuition rates typically paid by international students.

SIDEBAR: The Economic Stakes of Student Visa Cancellations

The current wave of student visa cancellations extends beyond immediate personal disruptions to affected students. It threatens both university finances and America's pipeline of specialized talent, particularly in STEM fields.

The Financial Impact on Universities

International students represent a crucial revenue stream for American universities, especially as state funding for public institutions has declined:

Premium Tuition Revenue: International students typically pay two to three times more than in-state students, with little or no financial aid. At many institutions, they contribute disproportionately to overall tuition revenue.
Economic Contributions: According to NAFSA, international students contributed $33.8 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2021-2022 academic year and supported more than 335,000 jobs nationwide.
Budget Bailout: Since the 2008 financial crisis, international students have effectively functioned as a financial bailout for many U.S. colleges facing declining subsidies and smaller budgets.
Public University Reliance: At public universities like Purdue, international undergraduate tuition has accounted for nearly half of all new tuition revenue since 2007.
Enrollment Offsets: International student enrollment has helped offset declining domestic enrollment at many institutions, stabilizing their financial position.

The magnitude of potential losses from mass visa cancellations could force affected universities to make difficult budget decisions, potentially cutting programs, reducing faculty, or raising tuition for domestic students.

The F-1 to H-1B Pipeline

A key aspect of America's talent acquisition strategy is the pathway from student visas to work visas, particularly in high-demand fields:

OPT Transition: Most international students use Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation as a bridge to H-1B visas, with STEM graduates eligible for up to 36 months of OPT.
Annual Conversion Rate: Approximately 32,000 F-1 students transition to H-1B status each year, according to USCIS data from 2008-2018.
Limited Slots: The H-1B program has an annual cap of 65,000 visas plus 20,000 for advanced degree holders, making the transition competitive through a lottery system.
STEM Priority: The number of foreign STEM graduates participating in OPT grew by 400% since employment extensions were introduced in 2008, reflecting both student interest and U.S. economic needs.
Innovation Pipeline: Research indicates higher rates of successful H-1B applications correlate with increased patent filings and venture capital funding for startups.

The disruption of this pathway through visa cancellations threatens to reduce America's ability to retain global talent in crucial industries, potentially pushing skilled graduates toward competitor nations like Canada, Australia, and the UK, which have more welcoming immigration policies for skilled graduates.

Long-term Economic Consequences

Beyond the immediate budget impacts on universities, the current visa cancellations could have lasting effects on U.S. economic competitiveness and innovation if they signal a broader policy shift away from attracting and retaining international talent.

Business leaders, particularly in tech industries, have consistently argued that limitations on student-to-worker visa pathways harm American competitiveness and often lead companies to move operations abroad rather than losing access to skilled graduates they've already trained.

SIDEBAR: Student Visa Law and Policies Then and Now

Legislative Basis for Student Visas

The primary legislative foundation for student visas in the United States is the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1952, which has been amended numerous times over the years. The INA collected many provisions and reorganized the structure of immigration law and continues to be the foundation of U.S. immigration law today.

Student visas are specifically defined in Section 101(a)(15)(F) of the INA, which establishes the F-1 visa category for academic students, and Section 101(a)(15)(M) for vocational students. According to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), "F-1 nonimmigrants are foreign students coming to the United States to pursue a full course of academic study in SEVP-approved schools" while "M-1 nonimmigrants are foreign nationals pursuing a full course of study at an SEVP-approved vocational or other recognized nonacademic institution."

The administration of the student visa program is divided between several government agencies:

The Department of State (DOS) - Responsible for issuing visas through consular officers at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - Oversees U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) which processes student status changes
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Manages the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

State Department Flexibility and Discretion

The Secretary of State and consular officers have extensive discretionary authority regarding student visas, particularly when it comes to:

Visa Issuance

For a student to qualify for a visa, they must demonstrate that they meet several requirements, including enrollment in an approved program, sufficient funds for self-support during their studies, English proficiency, and maintaining a residence abroad with no intention of abandoning it. However, consular officers have significant discretion in evaluating whether these criteria are met.

Under Section 214(b) of the INA, applicants are presumed to be intending immigrants unless they "credibly demonstrate, to the consular officer's satisfaction, that their economic, family, and social ties outside the United States are strong enough that they will depart at the end of their authorized stay." This gives consular officers considerable latitude in making visa determinations.

Visa Revocation

The Secretary of State's authority to revoke visas is particularly broad. According to Section 221(i) of the INA: "After the issuance of a visa or other documentation to any alien, the consular officer or the Secretary of State may at any time, in his discretion, revoke such visa or other documentation."

This discretionary authority has been further expanded through regulatory changes. In 2011, the Department of State issued a final rule that "broaden[ed] the authority of a consular officer to revoke a visa at any time subsequent to issuance of the visa, in his or her discretion" to "expand consular officer visa revocation authority to the full extent allowed by statute."

The State Department's discretion in visa revocation is nearly absolute, as Section 221(i) "explicitly states that there shall be no means of judicial review or habeas corpus petition from the discretionary decision to revoke a visa under section 221(i) or any other habeas corpus provision." The only exception is if an alien already in the United States is placed in removal proceedings solely based on visa revocation.

The regulations (22 CFR § 41.122) further clarify that "A consular officer, the Secretary, or a Department official to whom the Secretary has delegated this authority is authorized to revoke a nonimmigrant visa at any time, in his or her discretion."

Recent Implementation

The current wave of student visa revocations demonstrates this broad discretionary authority in action. The Trump administration is applying Section 221(i) alongside other provisions like Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the INA, which "allows the Secretary of State to exclude, under certain circumstances, any applicant whose entry or proposed activities in the United States would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States."

Additionally, some students have had their visas revoked under "an obscure law barring noncitizens whose presence could have 'serious adverse foreign policy consequences,'" which was invoked by Trump in a January order addressing campus antisemitism.

The State Department can also initiate "provisional revocations" while considering information related to visa eligibility, and unlike consular officers, "the Department is not required to notify an individual of a revocation done pursuant to the Secretary's discretionary authority."

In summary, the legislative framework governing student visas grants the Secretary of State and consular officers extraordinary discretion in both issuing and revoking visas, with minimal judicial oversight or review. This broad authority is what enables the current administration to implement widespread visa revocations without needing to amend existing laws or regulations.

Trump's First Term (2017-2021)

During his first administration, President Trump implemented several restrictive policies affecting international students:

Travel Ban: In 2017, banned travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, affecting students from those regions
Fixed Duration Proposal: Attempted to replace "duration of status" with fixed 2-4 year visa terms, requiring renewals regardless of academic progress
COVID Policy: Briefly attempted to deport international students taking only online classes during the pandemic (later reversed after university pushback)
Increased Scrutiny: H-1B visa denial rates reached 24% (compared to 4% under Biden), with lengthier processing times and additional documentation requirements
OPT Restrictions: Attempted to limit Optional Practical Training extensions, particularly for STEM graduates

Biden Administration (2021-2025)

President Biden reversed many Trump-era policies and implemented more welcoming approaches:

Duration of Status: Maintained the policy allowing students to remain in the U.S. as long as they maintained enrollment
Visa Flexibility: Consular offices were given more flexibility in determining non-immigrant intent for F-1 visa applicants
Expedited Processing: Expanded virtual interviews and electronic filing while limiting requests for evidence
STEM Focus: Proposed making it easier for international students with advanced STEM degrees to receive work visas and apply for permanent residency
Family Unification: Supported family-based immigration and treating spouses and children of green card holders as immediate relatives

Current Trump Administration (2025)

The new Trump administration has announced or implemented several changes:

Mass Visa Revocations: Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed over 300 student visas have been revoked, citing both political activism and minor legal infractions
Foreign Policy Justification: Many visas are being revoked under a provision of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act allowing deportation of non-citizens deemed to pose "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences"
SEVIS Record Terminations: Unlike previous practice, the administration is terminating students' SEVIS records (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) without notifying universities
Immediate Departure Orders: Students with revoked visas are receiving orders to leave the country immediately, a departure from past practice that often permitted them to stay and complete studies
Expanded Travel Ban: Reports indicate the administration is considering an expanded travel ban potentially affecting as many as 43 countries

What International Students Should Know

Universities are advising international students to carry all documentation when traveling
Legal challenges to some visa revocations are moving through the courts
Many schools are checking SEVIS records daily to identify affected students
Students with concerns should contact their institution's international student office or consult an immigration attorney

Sources: Inside Higher Ed, AP News, Reuters, ICEF Monitor, The Conversation

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