Miami, Florida – The Trump administration’s recent actions to revoke student visas and terminate students from a tracking system for foreign scholars have now impacted institutions across the South. Public and private colleges and universities in the Sun Belt region have reported changes in the immigration status of some of their international students.
According to university representatives, several students had their F1 student visas revoked or their SEVIS records terminated, which essentially ends their legal status in the country. Florida International University revealed that 18 foreign students had their F1 visas revoked, while Texas A&M mentioned that 23 international students had their SEVIS records terminated.
Other schools affected include New Mexico State, the University of North Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, and Rice University, where students faced visa revocations or status changes in the federal immigration database. The University of Texas at Austin also confirmed that multiple foreign students experienced changes in their immigration status.
These developments coincide with the Trump administration’s efforts to revoke the visas of hundreds of college and university scholars, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio estimating that 300 students had their visas revoked last month. The administration’s scrutiny on foreign-born students involved in activism has raised concerns about due process and free speech rights.
The case of a former Columbia University student, who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after his student visa was revoked, has drawn national attention and sparked protests. The Trump administration claims the student was involved with activities aligned to a designated terrorist organization, but his legal team argues there is no evidence to support these allegations.
Despite support from Rubio and the administration’s stance, critics argue that the targeting of foreign-born students engaged in activism may be a tactic to suppress dissenting voices. The ongoing legal battles and protests surrounding the case highlight the broader implications of the administration’s immigration policies on academic freedom and civil liberties.
As the debate continues, the fate of foreign students involved in activism remains uncertain, with legal proceedings and challenges shaping the outcomes for those facing immigration status changes. The intersection of national security concerns, free speech rights, and immigration policies underscores the complexities of the current landscape facing international scholars in the United States.