US: Minor traffic offences can now get your student visa revoked

International students in the US are facing unprecedented levels of scrutiny, as federal authorities have begun revoking visas for reasons as minor as past traffic violations or online expressions of political support, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Universities across the country — including Harvard, Stanford, the University of Michigan, UCLA, and Ohio State — have been rocked by a surge in abrupt visa cancellations. Many students affected, including a significant number from India, have no known ties to recent pro-Palestinian protests that have swept campuses. Instead, immigration officials are citing years-old speeding tickets and even social media activity as reasons for the severe action.

University administrators were blindsided. Most learned of the visa cancellations only after checking federal immigration databases, often left scrambling without any clear explanation from government agencies.

Minor Offenses, Major Consequences

In one striking example, Ranjani Srinivasan, a 37-year-old Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University, was forced to leave the U.S. for Canada after immigration agents unexpectedly revoked her visa and appeared at her door. Her only known offense? A speeding ticket from three years ago.

Another student, Badar Khan Suri, studying conflict resolution at Georgetown University, was detained and informed his visa had been revoked due to allegations of antisemitic speech and purported ties to Hamas. Suri vehemently denies the charges and attributes the targeting to his wife’s Palestinian heritage. He has no criminal record.

A New Tool: Artificial Intelligence Surveillance

Sources revealed that the U.S. Department of State has been using an artificial intelligence-driven program, ominously named “Catch and Revoke,” to scan social media for signs of “terrorist sympathies” in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel last year. Even seemingly harmless actions, such as liking or sharing content related to Gaza, can now trigger an investigation.

Axios previously reported that federal agencies are pouring through online platforms wHamasith algorithms designed to flag posts that could indicate support for designated terrorist groups. In some cases, students were found to have lost their visas simply for engaging with pro-Gaza content, despite never participating in physical demonstrations.

A Directive from the Top

The intensified crackdown began after March 25, following an internal directive from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to a report by the Times of India, Rubio’s directive mandated mandatory reviews of international students’ online activities as a condition for maintaining their visas.

Rubio publicly acknowledged the campaign:
“Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visa,” he declared. “We will continue revoking visas every day. Anyone engaging in pro-terrorist activities or sympathies will not find safe harbor in the United States.”

Under his leadership, more than 300 international students have reportedly had their visas revoked in the past two months alone.

Fear and Confusion on Campus

For many international students, the mood has turned from hopeful to fearful. Some have started self-censoring their online behavior, deleting old posts, or even refraining from political discussions altogether.

“Every day feels like walking on a tightrope,” said a student from India who asked to remain anonymous. “I came here for education and opportunity. Now, it feels like I’m being watched all the time.”

University officials are urging federal agencies for greater transparency and advocating for clearer guidelines to protect students who have not engaged in illegal activities.

But for now, the message to international students is chillingly clear: In the United States today, even a minor traffic violation or a ‘like’ on social media could end dreams of an American education.

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