Hundreds of international students across the United States are facing sudden visa cancellations and terminations of their legal status, leaving them uncertain about their future.
According to an Associated Press review, at least 901 students from 128 colleges have been affected, with advocacy groups warning that the number may be higher.
The students, primarily from India and China, have been targeted for various reasons, including minor infractions like traffic violations. Lawyers say no region appears to be exempt, and the crackdown has sparked panic and confusion on college campuses nationwide. “We thought it was unusual at first,” said Boston-based attorney Matthew Maiona. “Now it’s coming fast and furious.”
Some students are taking legal action, with four students in Michigan suing the government over the lack of clear reasons for their status termination. Judges in several states, including New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Montana, have temporarily restored some students’ legal status.
The situation has left students, some just weeks from graduation or employment, in limbo. Universities are discovering terminations directly in the government’s immigration database, often before students are notified. With no official comment from the State or Homeland Security Departments, confusion and fear are mounting.
“It’s scary,” said a Chinese Ph.D. student at UNC Chapel Hill. “You don’t know if you’ll be the next one.” Some students are being advised to leave the country, while others are staying and appealing, hoping to avoid detention or deportation.
