International students caught in quiet federal purge of legal residency

FILE – People remove belongings on campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., March 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

Alarms are ringing across American universities as federal authorities escalate a quiet but forceful campaign against international students. Legal residency statuses are being revoked without notice, visa permissions are being stripped away abruptly, and university officials are left scrambling for answers. For students who once viewed the United States as a sanctuary of learning and opportunity, the climate is shifting fast—and ominously.
The trend, which appears to have intensified in recent weeks, is disrupting lives, upending careers, and sowing distrust within the international academic community. Behind the scenes, federal enforcement is no longer a collaborative process with colleges but a silent, unilateral operation.

Visa revocations with no warning

Universities have reported cases where students, many with clean records and years of academic investment, are being told to leave the country—often immediately and without explanation. At Minnesota State University in Mankato, five students lost their legal status with no prior alert. The discovery came only after a database check, prompted by the detention of another international student in Minnesota.

From protest to punishment?

Federal officials claim the crackdown is tied to visa violations or criminal activity. But college leaders are increasingly convinced that political targeting is part of the calculus—particularly against students associated with pro-Palestinian activism. President Donald Trump, during his campaign, pledged to deport foreign students involved in such protests. The first known case was Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian green-card holder detained after participating in campus demonstrations.
Yet not all students under scrutiny have links to activism. Some have faced action for traffic violations or offenses long resolved, while others remain mystified about what triggered their legal status change.

Sidestepping universities, eroding norms

Traditionally, the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department coordinated with universities before taking immigration action against students. That channel appears to be closed. Now, students are discovering their visa terminations only when attempting to travel, work, or through institutional status checks.

Uncertainty spreads across states

The impact spans prestigious institutions nationwide—from Cornell and Arizona State to the University of Texas and North Carolina State. Some students have left voluntarily; others have been detained. At Tufts University, immigration authorities acted before even notifying the school.
At Texas A&M, visa revocations reportedly stemmed from past infractions as minor as a speeding ticket. At the University of Texas, one Indian student working legally post-graduation had their status terminated without violating any known rules.

No clear pattern, no clear rules

Colleges are left searching for patterns—scanning student records and even social media posts. But the logic behind who is being targeted remains elusive. Some affected students are from the Middle East or China; others are on government-sponsored scholarships and avoid political engagement entirely.
The lack of clarity, transparency, and process is what most alarms institutional leaders. The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities has requested dialogue with the State Department, but little information has been forthcoming.

America’s academic edge at risk

For decades, international students have powered American research, innovation, and higher education funding. They chose the US for its openness, academic freedom, and global prestige. But as Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, warns, that appeal is fading.
The message being sent today is stark: A visa is no longer a guarantee, and a classroom may no longer be a safe haven. For international students and the institutions that host them, the era of quiet certainty is over—and a new, unpredictable reality has taken its place.