ACE Calls for Clearer Visa Revocation Guidelines to Protect International Students

Visa Crackdown on Protests: U.S. Universities Urged to Address Growing Concerns

The American Council on Education (ACE), in collaboration with 15 other higher education associations, raised concerns about the growing issue of student visa cancellations in the U.S. In a letter sent on April 4 to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the organisations expressed serious concerns about the increasing revocations linked to minor legal convictions, questionable social media activity, and documentation errors.

ACE President Ted Mitchell, representing the collective concerns, called for greater transparency in the visa revocation process, emphasising that student records were being terminated in the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) without adequate explanations provided to educational institutions. As a result, campuses across the U.S. have been facing heightened anxiety, with international students uncertain about their academic futures due to sudden and unexplained cancellations.

Chev Dalal Daly, Senior Director at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, described the recent crackdown as broader and more coordinated than past efforts. Daly noted that institutions often discover cancellations only after federal immigration records are updated. This crackdown has affected both current students and recent graduates. For instance, Harvard University identified five revoked visas, Arizona State University reported 50, and Northeastern University confirmed 40 cancellations, prompting investigations and legal support efforts. Additionally, the University of California system reported 35 visa cancellations, a rise that followed the March 8 arrest of Columbia alumnus Mahmoud Khalil, who was detained for allegedly inciting anti-Israel protests.

In response to six visa revocations, Stanford University advised international students to carry identification at all times and formed a working group to address the issue. UMass Amherst established an Angel Fund to support affected students with legal and living expenses. These measures came in the wake of the January 20 White House executive order on national security, which was considered the foundation for the stricter policies targeting student visas. This was viewed as part of a broader effort to enhance public safety and counter foreign threats.

While the letter acknowledged the federal government’s responsibility to safeguard national security, it emphasised that a lack of clarity surrounding visa revocations was preventing institutions from providing adequate support to international students, who contribute significantly to U.S. campuses and communities. In a March 27 press briefing in Guyana, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that approximately 300 student visas had been revoked under President Trump’s directive targeting pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.

Rubio referred to some protesting students as “lunatics” and specifically mentioned the case of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, who was detained after participating in protests and co-authoring an article calling for divestment from companies linked to Israel. Rubio further stated that international students involved in disruptive protests, including vandalism and occupying campus buildings, should not expect to retain their visa privileges.

The April 4 letter urged federal agencies to provide clarity and transparency on the revocation of student visas and the termination of SEVIS records, which were reportedly occurring without notifying the affected universities. This left students in legal limbo and institutions unable to offer proper support. According to ACE, many international students learned of their visa cancellations only through abrupt emails or text messages instructing them to self-deport. In some cases, such as a UC San Diego student, cancellations were only discovered upon detention and immediate deportation. Unlike past practices, where students could remain in the U.S. after visa cancellations, the current trend of terminating both visa and SEVIS status forces immediate deportation.

Experts noted that the public and coordinated nature of these actions suggested a new approach by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, typically reserved for pressing national security concerns. The chancellor of the University of Massachusetts called the situation “unprecedented,” stressing that democratic principles appeared to be under strain. He urged universities to prepare for and respond thoughtfully to these changes.

ACE, along with its member institutions, announced plans to seek briefings from the State Department and DHS to better understand the criteria for visa revocations, particularly regarding ambiguous terms like “support for terrorism.” The organisations aim to explore strategies that balance national security with the integrity of U.S. higher education. Moreover, concerns were raised about the potential impact of cancellations of Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs, which could harm not only international students but also the universities they attend and the broader U.S. economy. The 2024 Open Doors Report estimated that international students contribute $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy, with major U.S. tech companies benefiting from the skilled talent pool. The letter from ACE and 15 other higher education associations called for greater clarity from the government to safeguard the contributions of international students to campus diversity, academic excellence, and the U.S. higher education system.

Editor's Note:

In recent weeks, concerns have grown among U.S. higher education institutions regarding the sudden and unexplained revocation of student visas. The American Council on Education (ACE), alongside 15 other educational associations, has raised alarm about the lack of clarity and communication from federal agencies, which has left both students and universities in uncertainty. This eradication, believed to be linked to national security measures, has already affected many international students across U.S. campuses, with institutions like Harvard, Arizona State University, and Northeastern University reporting numerous visa cancellations. As the situation unfolds, there is a growing call for transparency and clearer guidelines from the U.S. government to balance national security with the vital role that international students play in enriching U.S. higher education. 

Skoobuzz believes that the outcome of this ongoing issue will have significant implications for U.S. universities and the broader economy, particularly in fields that rely on skilled international talent