Student visa crackdown under Trump fuels fear and uncertainty on US campuses

File photo of students awaiting their turn for visa interview during the annual Student Visa Day event, at the US Embassy in New Delhi.

On a cold Thursday morning in March, White House journalists at the press briefing room spotted a new face among them. But behind the headlines, another drama unfolded: international students in the United States were rushing to make sense of a new age of student visa enforcement under President Trump, the New York Times reported.

Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian Fulbright scholar and Columbia University doctoral candidate, escaped to Canada when her student visa was terminated and immigration officials showed up unexpectedly at her on-campus apartment. Rumeysa Ozturk, a student at Tufts University in Somerville, Massachusetts, was arrested by federal authorities two weeks later, apparently after being targeted by a right-wing campus monitor group.

These attacks have caused shockwaves within the international student community, with individuals questioning today whether they are safe in the nation they come to seek an education and opportunities.

What is a student visa? And why is it in the news?

F-1 visa is the most frequent student visa of the US. It permits non-US nationals to study full-time at approved universities. The students have to be in compliance with stringent requirements such as full-time enrolment, support by self as well as limitation on off-campus employment.

But the precariousness of F-1 status renders students vulnerable. If someone is found to be out of compliance with any visa conditions—say, by working unauthorised hours, failing academically, or being involved in behaviour that immigration authorities deem risky—their visa may be rescinded.

Free speech is guaranteed, but immigration status is not

While foreign students have constitutional freedoms, such as free speech, these do not necessarily shield them from immigration repercussions. Legal analysts say visa holders have the same fundamental protections afforded to citizens but that immigration authorities have great discretion to revoke visas if they detect any breach.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has taken it further. He recently confirmed that US diplomats abroad are reviewing the social media activity of visa applicants, looking for signs of criticism of the United States or its allies. He stated more than 300 visas had been revoked to date and more were being reviewed.

This aggressive stance has triggered alarm from the leaders of universities. NAFSA's CEO, Fanta Aw, global educators association, stated students are "terrified" and wondering whether they should remain in the US or return to home country. The dean of Columbia School of Journalism, Jelani Cobb, indicated his students now fear that work done as scholars might be viewed as political dissidence.

The US welcomed 1.1 million international students in the 2023-24 academic year, adding close to $44 billion to the country's economy, as per the Institute of International Education. New York

University led the list, followed by Northeastern University, Columbia University, and Arizona State University.

India has the largest number of students (29%), followed by China (25%), South Korea (4%), and Canada (3%).

Can student visa holders appeal a revocation?

In theory, students can challenge revocations of visas, but in practice, it's almost impossible. Immigration attorneys report success rates are low. Courts defer significantly to executive discretion on visa issues, so even legal political activity or technical violations can result in permanent loss of status.

"Even those students who have committed no crime can become out of status by virtue of university disciplinary action or social media comment," said lawyer Joseph Lento, who consults with international students.

What will cause a visa to be revoked?

Reasons include illegal work, poor academic performance, or perceived danger to the public. But it has expanded. One student reportedly had their visa revoked after being issued a high number of speeding tickets.

Now political speech is under the microscope. Rubio has ordered reviews of visas for students suspected of having ties to "terrorist organisations," a designation critics argue is being used too broadly and without proper process.

A chilling effect on US campuses

Universities, long enriched by international students' presence and tuition payments, are now scrambling. The American Council on Education has requested clarification from the State Department. The students, meanwhile, are in a state of uncertainty, worried that any false move—or even a tweet—will result in detention or deportation.

For others, the American dream of education is becoming a nightmare of uncertainty.