In a sweeping move that has sparked outrage and confusion across U.S. campuses, the administration of former President Donald Trump has revoked the student visas of hundreds of international students, forcing many to leave the United States within a week.
The sudden cancellations, reported across states including California, Colorado, Ohio, and Florida, were discovered through unexpected emails, texts, and notifications via the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
While many universities have confirmed cases, they remain cautious about disclosing full details due to privacy concerns.
“I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and I’ve never seen 300 students lose their visas at once. It’s all political,” said immigration attorney Len Saunders.
According to reports, some of the visa revocations were linked to minor offenses such as traffic violations or roommate disputes, while others appear to stem from students’ participation in pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio openly admitted to overseeing the cancellation of at least 300 student visas, calling the affected students “lunatics” for their activism.
“Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas,” Rubio said during a press briefing.
While none of the students have been officially detained, many were told they had just seven days to exit the country.
The crackdown has triggered student-led protests at institutions like the University of Arizona and Tufts University, where Turkish student Rumeysa Öztürk was detained despite holding a valid visa.
Colorado State University confirmed six visa revocations.
UMass Amherst reported five affected students. “We are working proactively with the students to help them connect with appropriate legal resources,” said Kathleen Fairfax of CSU.
UMass Chancellor Javier Reyes, a former international student himself, pledged “unwavering support” and urged all international students to verify their visa status immediately.
Education organizations have condemned the move, demanding transparency from federal authorities.
In a letter addressed to government officials, the American Council on Education and other academic groups warned that these actions have fueled uncertainty and fear among international students — a community long considered vital to U.S. academia.
“These recent actions have contributed to a climate of instability and unpredictability,” the letter read.
Professor Robert Cohen of NYU criticized the crackdown as an attack on civil liberties.
“This reflects a deeper issue — that Trump and the far-right do not genuinely support free speech when it contradicts their political narrative,” Cohen said.
As the backlash grows, many await further clarification from U.S. immigration authorities and fear that more revocations could follow in the coming weeks.
