Trump Administration Revokes 150 Student Visas, Sparking Fear and Confusion Across U.S. Campuses

In a move sending shockwaves across American campuses, the Trump administration has revoked the visas of around 150 international students, including those attending some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions such as Harvard University and Stanford University. The terminations, delivered with little explanation, have sparked confusion, fear, and growing legal battles as universities and students scramble for answers.

Students across the country were notified in recent days that their visa statuses had been canceled, often without warning, reason, or the opportunity to appeal. Universities from coast to coast, including the University of California system, the University of Texas at Austin, and Minnesota State University-Mankato, have reported multiple cases of affected students. According to media and university reports, at least 147 students have been impacted so far.

The stunning visa cancellations appear to align with a broader pattern of hardline immigration enforcement seen during the Trump administration’s second term. Immigration attorneys and advocates say this is unprecedented in both scale and secrecy.

“This upends all usual practice by the government,” said Miriam Feldblum, CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, in an interview with The New York Times. “They are terminating students’ statuses in a way they have never done before and with virtually no explanation and little recourse to correct or appeal by either the institution or the students.”

A Shroud of Uncertainty

The reasons behind the visa revocations remain murky. Some students reported being questioned about past activism, particularly involving pro-Palestinian causes. Others faced minor legal infractions — such as traffic violations from years ago — and yet others had no known incidents in their records.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has already taken legal action, filing a complaint on April 4 on behalf of Xiaotian Liu, a Chinese doctoral student at Dartmouth College whose visa was revoked without any known cause. Dartmouth officials confirmed that Liu was in good standing, adding further to the mystery surrounding the administration’s crackdown.

For international students, many of whom have spent years building lives, careers, and communities in the United States, the sudden threat of detention and deportation has been devastating.

“Every day, I wonder if immigration officials will show up at my door,” said one affected student at the University of California, speaking on condition of anonymity. “I came here to learn and to build a better future. Now, everything is uncertain.”

Universities and Lawyers Sound the Alarm

University officials nationwide have been frantically working to provide legal assistance to students. Immigration lawyers report an overwhelming surge in calls and consultations from students who feel abandoned by a system that once promised them opportunity.

“This kind of indiscriminate action not only harms individual students — it damages America’s global reputation as a welcoming place for talent and innovation,” said a university spokesperson at Stanford.

The visa cancellations come at a time when the U.S. higher education sector already faces declining international enrollment. Experts warn that such aggressive policies could further drive talented students to countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, who are seen as more welcoming.

Also Read : Poonam Murgai: Pioneering the Future of AI and Human Connection