WASHINGTON — U.S. immigration authorities have begun quietly revoking student visas from international students at top American universities, including Harvard, Tufts, Stanford, and several University of California campuses — a move that has alarmed education officials and sparked legal challenges.
The wave of cancellations, which has affected both current students and recent graduates, has unfolded largely without public notice. In many cases, universities only discovered the revocations after federal immigration databases were updated, leaving institutions scrambling for answers and affected students facing detention or deportation.
Trump administration intensifies scrutiny of international students
The visa cancellations appear to be part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to increase oversight of foreign nationals on U.S. campuses. Last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that more than 300 student visas had been revoked as part of this initiative.
“We are still trying to really get a good handle on what is happening, trying to track this and get a better understanding of the scope and breadth of it,” said Shev Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
High-profile detentions raise alarm
Among the most widely discussed cases is that of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University, who was reportedly detained by federal agents last month while walking outside. Another case involves Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbia University, who had his visa revoked following his participation in pro-Palestinian protests.
Both Ozturk and Khalil are currently being held in immigration detention facilities as federal authorities pursue deportation proceedings.
Lawsuits filed over alleged due process violations
According to the Los Angeles Times, dozens of students across California campuses — including UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, and Stanford — have seen their visas revoked in recent weeks. Two students have filed lawsuits in federal court, claiming that their visas were canceled without proper legal notice or explanation. In some cases, minor infractions such as driving violations were cited as justification.
Stanford University confirmed Friday that six of its students had their visas revoked. In a statement, the university said a working group on immigration continues to monitor developments and reiterated that Stanford does not share personal data with immigration authorities unless legally required.
Harvard University reported that three of its current students and two recent graduates have also had their visas canceled. Additional cases have emerged at Dartmouth College, Minnesota State University, Arizona State University, and the University of Oregon, according to the Associated Press.
Federal agencies remain silent as protests grow
Neither the State Department nor Immigration and Customs Enforcement responded to requests for comment. While the State Department has long had the authority to revoke visas, immigration experts say the current wave appears to be unusually broad and systematically coordinated.
On April 5, the issue of student visa revocations became a rallying point at anti-Trump demonstrations held in cities nationwide. Protest organizers cited the detentions of Ozturk and Khalil as examples of what they argue is political targeting and a broader clampdown on international students and freedom of speech on American campuses.
With lawsuits now pending and campus officials demanding transparency, the administration’s approach is drawing fresh scrutiny — both in the courts and in the court of public opinion.
