Colleges Scramble Over Yanked Student Visas

Introduction to the Issue

The Golden State’s renowned universities attract students from all over the world. More than 140,000 international students were enrolled in California campuses last school year, according to data from the Institute of International Education.

Background on the Revocations

Some of those students now face an uncertain future after the Trump administration revoked dozens of international student visas beginning Friday, with no apparent warning. That left college leaders scrambling to determine how many of their students are impacted. The rough estimate based on our reporting so far is that at least 83 students and recent graduates in California have been affected. Most of them are still in the U.S., but their new status opens them up for deportation and other enforcement.

Cases of Revocation

That’s what happened to one UC San Diego student, who was “detained at the border, denied entry and deported to their home country,” Chancellor Pradeep Khosla wrote in a campus message. Revocations have been reported on several campuses across the state, including UCLA, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and Stanford. Students pass by the Bruin statue at UCLA on March 23, 2023. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

University Responses

“The termination notices indicate that all terminations were due to violations of the terms of the individuals’ visa programs,” UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk wrote in a campus message Sunday. Among the state’s CSU campuses, the visas of 32 students had been revoked as of midday Monday, a spokesperson for the chancellor’s office told me. The spokesperson declined to share details, citing privacy laws. Meanwhile, USC officials have thus far “declined to state whether student visas were canceled at the campus, which is home to more than 17,000 international students, the largest concentration at any California school.”

Federal Response

It’s unclear why exactly the affected students were targeted for revocation. After headline-making detainments and deportations elsewhere in the U.S., federal officials alleged “pro-Hamas” activities by foreign students who had protested Israel’s war in Palestine. But campus members told Jaweed that there doesn’t appear to be a connection to cases in California. A State Department spokesperson told The Times in a written statement that the U.S. “has zero tolerance for non-citizens who violate U.S. laws,” but did not give specifics about visa cancellations in California.

Student Reactions and Lawsuits

Some affected students are already fighting back. Two filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in Los Angeles federal court over the weekend, arguing their revocations were illegal and claiming their only legal violations had been minor driving-related infractions. In their complaint, their lawyers argue the federal actions are “designed to coerce students … into abandoning their studies and ‘self-deporting.’”

Conclusion

The sudden revocation of student visas for international students in California has caused confusion and concern among colleges and universities. The reasons behind these revocations are not entirely clear, and the affected students are facing uncertain futures. As the situation continues to unfold, it is essential for educational institutions and legal entities to work together to provide support and clarity for those impacted.

FAQs

• Q: How many international students were enrolled in California campuses last school year?
  A: More than 140,000 international students were enrolled.
• Q: How many students and recent graduates in California have been affected by the visa revocations?
  A: At least 83 students and recent graduates have been affected.
• Q: What are the reasons given for the visa revocations?
  A: The termination notices indicate violations of the terms of the individuals’ visa programs, but specific reasons for individual cases are not always clear.
• Q: Have any of the affected students taken legal action?
  A: Yes, some affected students have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration arguing their revocations were illegal.