Washington (AP) – Universities across the country report that there are some visas for international students Unexpectedly cancelledExpressing alarms to what appears to be a new level of government scrutiny.
Visas can be cancelled for several reasons, but university leaders say the government has quietly terminated students’ legal residences with little notice to students or schools. It shows a change from past practices, making students vulnerable to detention and deportation.
List of universities that discovered students include Harvard, Stanford, Michigan, UCLA, and Ohio State University.
The Trump administration targets students involved in pro-Palestinian behaviorism and speeches, including prominent detention, including several well-known students. Mahmoud Khalila green card holder who was the leader of the protest at Columbia University.
However, more schools have been stripped of visas from students whose connections to the protest are unknown. In some cases, past violations such as traffic violations are cited. Some universities say the reason remains unknown to them – and they are looking for an answer.
“What’s happening with international students is part of a much larger scrutiny that the Trump administration endures all different categories of immigration,” said Michel Mittelstadt, director of spokesmanship for the Institute for Immigration Policy.
Many university staff and students only discover changes when they check federal databases and see changes in individual immigration status.
How does a student visa work?
Students from other countries must meet a set of requirements for obtaining a student visa (usually an F-1). After enrolling in a US school, students go through an application and interview process at the US embassy or overseas consulates.
F-1 visa students must have sufficient financial support for research courses in the United States that must remain in good health in their academic programs, and demonstrate that their ability to work off-campus during academic programs is limited.
Admission visas are administered by the State Department. When they are in the United States, the legal status of international students is overseen by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program under the Department of Homeland Security.
Many university leaders learned the legal status of some international students when they checked databases managed by Homeland Security. In the past, university officials say visas were usually revoked after renewing schools when the school lost their status.
After losing a legal settlement, students are told to leave the country
Historically, students revoking their visas were permitted to maintain their legal residence and complete their studies.
The lack of a valid visa only restricted the ability to leave the United States and return home. However, if students lose their residence status, they must either leave immediately or endanger detention by immigration authorities.
Higher education leaders worry that arrests and cancellations could have a calm impact on international education in the United States.
Sarah Spretzer, vice president of government relations at the American Council of Education, said the lack of clarity that has led to the withdrawal could create a sense of fear among students.
“The very public action taken by the Department of Ice and Homeland Security over some of these students is taking these students out of their homes and the streets. It’s not usually done unless there’s a security issue when the student visa is revoked,” she said. “This very quick removal threat is new.”
The university is trying to reassure students
In their message to campus, the university says it is asking the federal government for answers on what led to their fire. Others have reemphasizing travel precautions for students, and recommend carrying a passport or other immigration documents.
University leaders spoke of growing uncertainty and anxiety.
“These are unprecedented times, and the principles that serve as our usual guideline for living in a democratic society are being challenged,” wrote Prime Minister Marcelo Suarez Orozco of the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in an email. “As the speed and depth of change occur, we must be considerate about how best to prepare, protect and respond.”
Suárez-Orozco said that legal residency status has been cancelled for two students and “five members of the university community, including recent graduates participating in the training program.”
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