Visa Cancellations Sow Panic for International Students Fearing Deportation

Introduction to the Crisis

At first, the bar association for immigration attorneys began receiving inquiries from a couple of students a day. These were foreigners studying in the U.S., and they’d discovered in early April their legal status had been terminated with little notice. To their knowledge, none of the students had committed a deportable offense.

In recent days, the calls have begun flooding in. Hundreds of students have been calling to say they have lost legal status, seeking advice on what to do next.
“We thought it was going to be something that was unusual,” said Matthew Maiona, a Boston-based immigration attorney who is getting about six calls a day from panicked international students. “But it seems now like it’s coming pretty fast and furious.”

The Scope of the Problem

The speed and scope of the federal government’s efforts to terminate the legal status of international students have stunned colleges across the country. Few corners of higher education have been untouched, as schools ranging from prestigious private universities, large public research institutions, and tiny liberal arts colleges discover status terminations one after another among their students.

At least 600 students at more than 90 colleges and universities have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated in recent weeks, according to an Associated Press review of university statements and correspondence with school officials. Advocacy groups collecting reports from colleges say hundreds more students could be caught up in the crackdown.

Students Apparently Targeted Over Minor Infractions

Around 1.1 million international students were in the United States last year — a source of essential revenue for tuition-driven colleges. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid, and their ability to pay tuition often factors into whether they will be admitted to American schools. Often, they pay full price.

Many of the students losing their legal status are from India and China, which together account for more than half the international students at American colleges. But the terminations have not been limited to those from any one part of the world, lawyers said.

Four students from two Michigan universities are suing Trump administration officials after their F-1 student status was terminated last week. Their attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, Ramis Wadood, said the students never received a clear reason why.
“We don’t know, and that’s the scary part,” he said.

In a Break from Past, Feds Cancel Students’ Status Directly

At many colleges, officials learned the legal immigration status of some international students had been terminated when staff checked a database managed by the Department of Homeland Security. In the past, college officials say, legal statuses typically were updated after colleges told the government the students were no longer studying at the school.

The system to track enrollment and movements of international students came under the control of Immigration and Customs Enforcement after 9/11, said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association of international educators. She said recent developments have left students fearful of how quickly they can be on the wrong side of enforcement.
“You don’t need more than a small number to create fear,” Aw said. “There’s no clarity of what are the reasons and how far the reach of this is.”

Her group says as many as 1,300 students have lost visas or had their status terminated, based on reports from colleges.

Impact on Students and Institutions

The Department of Homeland Security and State Department did not respond to messages seeking comment.
Foreigners who are subject to removal proceedings are usually sent a notice to appear in immigration court on a certain date, but lawyers say affected students have not received any notices, leaving them unsure of next steps to take.

Some schools have told students to leave the country to avoid the risk of being detained or deported. But some students have appealed the terminations and stayed in the United States while those are processed.

Still, others caught in legal limbo aren’t students at all. They had remained in the U.S. post-graduation on “optional practical training,” a one-year period — or up to three for science and technology graduates — that allows employment in the U.S. after completing an academic degree. During that time, a graduate works in their field and waits to receive their H-1B or other employment visas if they wish to keep working in the U.S.

Conclusion

The recent wave of visa cancellations for international students in the U.S. has sent shockwaves across the higher education sector, with hundreds of students facing the risk of deportation. The reasons behind these terminations are often unclear, and the process has left many in a state of uncertainty and fear. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how institutions, advocacy groups, and the government will respond to address the concerns and rights of these students.

FAQs

• Q: How many international students have been affected by visa cancellations?
  A: At least 600 students at more than 90 colleges and universities have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated.
• Q: Why are international students being targeted?
  A: The reasons are often unclear, but many students and lawyers believe it may be due to minor infractions or without any deportable offenses.
• Q: What can affected students do?
  A: Students can appeal the terminations, seek legal advice, and in some cases, may be advised to leave the country to avoid detention or deportation.
• Q: How does this impact higher education in the U.S.?
  A: International students are a significant source of revenue for many U.S. colleges and universities, and these terminations could have financial implications for these institutions.