Half of OPT Visa Revocations Under Trump Target Indian Students, AILA Reports

A new report from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has brought troubling news for international students in the United States. In an in-depth analysis of recent OPT visa revocations, the AILA found that approximately 50% of those affected by the Trump administration’s latest immigration clampdown are Indian nationals.

The findings, based on 327 case reports reviewed by AILA, underscore growing concerns about the seemingly arbitrary cancellation of student visas—particularly for those pursuing Optional Practical Training (OPT), a vital bridge between academic study and practical work experience in the U.S.

Indian Students Hit the Hardest

According to AILA’s press release, Indian students have been disproportionately impacted, making up nearly half of the affected cases. Chinese students formed the second-largest group at 14%, followed by significant numbers from South Korea, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

“These numbers reflect more than just a statistic—they represent the shattered dreams of hundreds of young scholars who came to the U.S. in good faith to build their futures,” said one immigration attorney affiliated with AILA.

The revocations come at a time when India has cemented its place as the top contributor of international students to the U.S. education system. As per Open Doors data for 2023-2024, out of 1,126,690 international students in the U.S., over 330,000 hailed from India, constituting nearly 29% of the total cohort.

Sudden Visa Revocations Trigger Legal Backlash

In less than a month, at least 1,024 students have reportedly had their visas revoked or their legal status cancelled, prompting a series of lawsuits. Many students claim they were not given due process or any substantial explanation for the revocations, adding further uncertainty to their futures.

“What you’re seeing happening with international students is really a piece of the much greater scrutiny that the Trump administration is bringing to bear on immigrants of all different categories,” said Michelle Mittelstadt, Director of Public Affairs at the Migration Policy Institute.

The AILA echoed this sentiment, stating the visa cancellations “paint a concerning picture of the arbitrary nature of these visa revocations and terminations.”

The Bigger Concern: Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Perhaps the most pressing issue is that around half of the students affected by these OPT visa revocations were not traditional students, but rather graduates actively participating in the workforce through the Optional Practical Training program.

The OPT program allows students on F-1 visas to gain hands-on work experience in their fields of study. It is split into two main tracks:

• Regular OPT: Offers up to 12 months of work authorization after graduation.

• STEM OPT Extension: Grants an additional 24 months for students in science, technology, engineering, or math fields—totaling 36 months.

“The road to reinstating status for those who have already graduated and are employed on OPT is much more difficult and murkier than those who are currently students,” AILA cautioned in its statement. This uncertainty has left many former students in limbo, with jobs on hold and careers hanging by a thread.

No Clear Pattern, Only Consequences

Perhaps most alarming is the lack of a clear pattern or rationale behind these OPT visa revocations. While 86% of affected individuals reportedly had some form of police contact, a striking one-third never faced formal charges. In many cases, charges were dropped, or no prosecution followed, suggesting that mere interaction with law enforcement—rather than proven misconduct—might have been enough to jeopardize their visa status.

“This is not just a legal issue—it’s a humanitarian one,” said an advocate for immigrant students. “We’re watching lives unravel because of opaque policies and sweeping generalizations.”

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