The Trump administration has ignited a political and humanitarian firestorm by revoking the student visas of hundreds of international students across the U.S., with many given just days to leave the country.
The mass cancellations, described as unprecedented by immigration lawyers, have impacted students from at least eight states and come amid intensifying crackdowns on pro-Palestinian activism.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the move, saying he’s revoked visas of “lunatics,” a reference to students involved in protests or activism viewed by the administration as subversive. Civil liberties groups say that stance directly violates free speech protections and accuse the administration of political retaliation masked as immigration enforcement.
Universities are now scrambling to support affected students. At Colorado State University, six students were escorted to airports by university staff. The University of Michigan confirmed one architecture student had to flee before completing his master’s degree. University of Massachusetts-Amherst has activated emergency aid through its “Angel Fund,” a system set up during Trump’s first presidency.
Some visa cancellations appear to be linked to minor infractions, like traffic tickets or housing disputes. Others, legal observers say, are linked to protest participation or public comments perceived as controversial. The National Immigration Project has launched legal challenges, arguing the cancellations are sweeping, vague, and punitive.
Attorney Len Saunders, who has worked in immigration for 25 years, said he’s “never seen 300 visas revoked in one sweep” and called it “100% political.” Normally, student visa cancellations are rare and require serious infractions. In contrast, this wave is marked by sudden notifications via email or text, without appeal options clearly outlined.
Rubio told reporters, “We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas.” His admission has prompted outrage and calls for congressional oversight.
Notably, many of the affected students hail from Middle Eastern countries and were involved in campus protests concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While Rubio and Trump officials cite national security, critics argue that revoking of student visas is a targeted campaign against dissent.
Robert Cohen, an NYU professor who studies protest movements, said the administration is “weaponizing immigration law to silence political opposition.”
Major academic institutions and groups including the American Council on Education have formally requested an explanation from the Department of State. “This impedes our ability to advise students and undermines U.S. higher education’s global standing,” they wrote in a letter.
With no public list of affected students and vague justifications, schools are urging their international populations to double-check their visa status.
As universities scramble and protests flare up, the visa purge signals an alarming shift. What began as a quiet policy maneuver has now turned into a full-blown civil rights controversy with global ramifications.
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