The Trump administration has revoked student visas and terminated students from the SEVIS tracking system, affecting international students at universities in the South. Schools such as Florida International University, Texas A&M, the University of North Carolina, New Mexico State, Middle Tennessee State, and Rice University have reported students experiencing changes in their immigration status. Some students have had their visas revoked or their SEVIS records terminated, which effectively ends their legal status in the country.
The administration’s crackdown on foreign scholars has drawn attention following the arrest of a former Columbia University postgraduate who was involved in protest activities against Israel. The individual, Khalil, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who claimed his student visa had been revoked, despite his permanent resident status. Khalil’s ongoing detention has sparked protests and accusations of a lack of due process.
The Trump administration has targeted foreign-born students engaged in activism, citing ties to designated terrorist organizations as grounds for revocations and deportations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has supported the deportation of students based on an obscure provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. The government’s actions have raised concerns about free speech suppression and the targeting of individuals based on their political activities.
Khalil is currently challenging his arrest in federal court while facing potential deportation. The administration’s approach to handling foreign student activists has drawn criticism for its impact on academic freedom and civil liberties.
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