The administration of President Donald Trump has revoked the visas of hundreds of international students, forcing many to exit the US within days.
Some students reportedly received unexpected texts or emails, while others discovered their cancellations through the Federal Student Exchange and Visitor Information System.
Universities across states like California, Colorado, Ohio, and Florida reported cases, though many declined to share details due to student privacy.
According to immigration experts, the scale is unprecedented
“I’ve been doing this for 25 years and I’ve never seen 300 students lose their visas. It’s all political,” immigration attorney Len Saunders said.
Some visa cancellations appear linked to minor issues like traffic violations or roommate disputes, while others may be tied to participation in pro-Palestinian protests.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed responsibility for revoking no fewer than 300 visas, calling the students “lunatics” for their activism.
“Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas,” he said.
The students affected are not being detained but told to leave the country within seven days.
This development has sparked protests, including at the University of Arizona and Tufts University, where Turkish student Rumeysa Öztürk was detained despite holding a valid visa.
Colorado State University confirmed six student visa revocations, while the University of Massachusetts-Amherst said five students were affected.
