International students across the United States are canceling travel plans and reconsidering summer schedules due to an escalating federal crackdown that has resulted in thousands of visa terminations and heightened risk of deportation under the Trump administration.
Since late March, at least 1,220 students at 187 colleges and universities have had their visas revoked or legal status terminated, according to an Associated Press review of court filings, school statements, and university correspondence. The number could be significantly higher—an April 10 response from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to Congress reported that 4,736 international students had their visa records terminated in the federal database used to track legal status.
Colleges have responded by warning students to avoid non-essential travel, particularly overseas. The University of California, Berkeley, recently issued an advisory urging caution due to “strict vetting and enforcement.” Other institutions had already been encouraging students and faculty to delay trips amid concerns that immigration authorities were targeting those involved in pro-Palestinian activism.
Under newly issued federal guidance, valid reasons for terminating a student’s status now include revocation of the visa used to enter the US—a shift from previous practice, which allowed students to remain in the country and continue studying even if their visa was no longer valid for reentry.
The policy change follows a wave of sudden removals from legal status, prompting some students to leave the US voluntarily, while others went into hiding. In many cases, students were unaware of any infractions or said the violations cited were minor.
After several courts raised due process concerns, the federal government reversed some terminations. However, the new policy has expanded the conditions under which students can be deemed out of status, compounding fear and confusion on campuses nationwide.
