What was once a dream opportunity for global scholars is now turning into a nightmare. The Trump administration has ramped up its targeting of international students, abruptly revoking hundreds of visas—leading to arrests, detentions, and forced deportations, often without warning.
Foreign students typically enter the U.S. on F-1, M-1, or J-1 visas, designed for academic and cultural exchange programs. These students must attend institutions certified by ICE’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). But now, even elite universities like Harvard face threats of decertification unless they hand over extensive student records.
J-1 visa holders—researchers, doctors, and professionals—are also feeling the heat. Once considered stable, these visas are now being revoked with little explanation, leaving students stranded.
Many students have had their legal status stripped after minor incidents, such as attending a protest or being stopped for traffic violations. Some, like Tufts University doctoral candidate Rümeysa Öztürk, were detained without being told their visas were canceled. Öztürk, who advocated for Palestinian rights, was accused of supporting Hamas, yet no formal charges were filed. Other students, including legal permanent residents at Columbia University, now face deportation for their activism.
Attorneys argue that the government is punishing students merely for expressing political views, not for any criminal activity. A lawsuit in Georgia alleges that over 100 international students had their visas canceled without due process.
Once the State Department revokes a visa, ICE swiftly issues removal orders. Students often receive abrupt emails demanding they “self-deport” within a week or face arrest. In some cases, even immigration lawyers get these notices by mistake, exposing a system that’s both ruthless and chaotic.
Previously, universities managed student visa statuses through SEVIS, the federal tracking system. Now, ICE has taken direct control, bypassing schools to deport students unilaterally.
Even those following the rules aren’t safe. Dr Rasha Alawieh, a Brown University professor and nephrologist, was deported after returning from her father’s funeral in Iran, accused of attending an event linked to Hezbollah.
As the crackdown widens, the United States risks losing not just talented students, but also its standing as a beacon of academic freedom.