At least 70 students attending New York universities and colleges have had their student visas revoked by the Trump administration, according to several school officials. Some of the cancellations, which overall reflect a small percentage of the estimated 1.5 million international students studying in the United States, according to USA TODAY, appear to be connected to things as minor as roommate disputes or as off-campus traffic tickets, while others appear to be connected to pro-Palestinian protest participation.
The American Council on Education and 15 other higher ed groups have requested a briefing from federal officials and the National Immigration Project is challenging the visa cancellations.
Here’s the latest.
Why are student visas being revoked?
Over 70 students attending New York universities and colleges have had their student visas revoked by the Trump administration, according to several school officials.
As for the revocation of student visas, the only direct explanation from the U.S. Department of State is vague: “To keep our community safe.”
“Well, we’ve never gone into the details of the visa process,” Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in an April 8 press conference.
“We don’t discuss individual visas because of the privacy issues involved. We don’t go into statistics or numbers; we don’t go into the rationale for what happens with individual visas. What we can tell you is that the department revokes visas every day in order to secure our borders and to keep our community safe, and we’ll continue to do so.”
There are many legal reasons why a student could have their visa revoked, such as expulsion, unauthorized employment or “otherwise failing to maintain status.”
What is an F-1 visa?
An F-1 is a type of nonimmigrant student visa that allows international students to enter the U.S. to pursue full-time academic studies in an accredited program, according to the State Department.
What is an M-1 visa?
An M-1 visa is similar to an F-1 visa, but for nonimmigrants to enroll in a vocational or other recognized nonacademic institution rather than a full-time academic program.
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What happens if a student visa is revoked?
The student must leave the country immediately or risk deportation if the status of the student’s visa is changed in the government’s Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database.
What is the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System?
SEVIS is the online system that the Department of Homeland Security uses to track F-1 and M-1 students’ status.
How many students have had their visa revoked?
It’s unclear because the Trump administration won’t say.
NAFSA reported on April 10 that there have been “almost 1,000 reports of international students and scholars either having their visa revoked and/or their record in SEVIS terminated.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that he’s revoked at least 300 visas of students he described as “lunatics,” citing pro-Palestinian support or activism, activities that are normally considered protected First Amendment rights, USA TODAY reported.
“It might be more than 300 at this point. We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas,” Rubio said at a press conference.
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Have students in New York had their visas revoked?
Yes, several universities throughout New York have collectively reported at least 70 students have had their visas recently revoked. Here’s how many have been confirmed so far:
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City University of New York (CUNY): In an email to the USA TODAY Network, a CUNY spokesperson said the university is aware of 17 international students having a visa status change.
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Cornell University: According to a university spokesperson, 17 students had their SEVIS student status terminated by federal authorities — eight have already graduated, nine are current students — and four of the 17 also had their visas revoked.
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Fordham University: Four international students had their visas revoked, a university spokesperson told the USA TODAY Network in an email.
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New York University: The university said it “has become aware that some members of our own community are among those affected” in an April 8 letter from President Linda G. Mills and Provost Georgina Dopico.
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Three students had their visas revoked, according to a university spokesperson. Two of the individuals graduated a few years ago but were participating in Optional Practical Training and one undergraduate had their student visa revoked while outside the U.S. and were denied entry when they attempted to return to the country.
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Rochester Institute of Technology: Several students had their visas canceled, according to school officials, but an RIT spokesperson declined to provide specifics due to privacy concerns.
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Siena College: A college spokesperson confirmed in an email to the USA TODAY Network one student had their visa revoked in April.
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St. Bonaventure University: The university’s student-run newspaper The Bona Venture reported one student had their visa revoked as of April 11.
How many international students study in New York?
Currently, 135,813 international students study in New York state, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal.
Contributing: USA TODAY
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Donald Trump student visa crackdown: How many have been revoked in NY?
