ACE and 15 other higher education associations have requested an urgent briefing from the departments of State and Homeland Security (DHS), following widespread reports that international students are being stripped of their visas and ordered to leave the country with little or no warning.In an April 4 letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the associations cited growing concern over visa cancellations that appear to be tied to social media activity, political expression, or minor infractions.
“We seek clarity amidst reports that student visas are being revoked and records are being terminated in the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) without additional information being shared with the institutions those students attend,” wrote ACE President Ted Mitchell on behalf of the groups. Affected students are being left in legal limbo with institutions scrambling to respond.
"We support the need for the federal government to safeguard national security, including vetting visas and overseeing the process for deciding who should be allowed to enter and remain in the country and under what terms," the letter continued. "Recent actions have contributed to uncertainty and impedes the ability of our institutions to best advise international students and scholars. It is important institutions are in a position to reassure international students so they can continue to make exceptional contributions to their campuses, communities, and the nation."
The visa revocations have been gaining national attention for weeks, with campuses, legal experts, and advocacy groups raising alarm. The New York Times highlighted the higher education community’s concerns and noted that ACE’s letter calls for greater transparency and communication from federal agencies.
Over the past several weeks, more than 300 student and visitor visas have been revoked, according to Secretary Rubio. In some cases, the revocations appear to be tied to students’ participation in campus protests or social media activity, while in others, visa status was canceled based on past infractions as minor as traffic violations. These actions are likely related to the Jan. 20 executive order, “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.”
The scope of the actions is sweeping and still unfolding. In California alone, at least six University of California campuses have reported student visa terminations, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Boston Globe reported over the weekend that cases also have emerged at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst), University of Oregon, University of Kentucky, Arizona State University, University of Colorado, and others.
In many cases, students learned their visas were revoked only after receiving abrupt emails or text messages ordering them to self-deport—sometimes after being detained. One student enrolled at the University of California San Diego was reportedly detained at the border, denied entry to the country, and deported without warning. And in many cases, universities only learned of the visa terminations by checking SEVIS.
Legal experts note that international students have constitutional protections, including First Amendment rights—but visa status can still be revoked unilaterally. Appeals are rare and seldom successful, according to The New York Times. But the policy shift marks a sharp break from past practice, where students whose visas were canceled could typically remain in the U.S. to finish their studies. Under the Trump administration, both visa and SEVIS status are being terminated, forcing immediate departure.
At UMass Amherst, Chancellor Javier Reyes said the revocations took place “under unclear circumstances“ and announced the university has established an Angel Fund to assist students with legal and living expenses.
In their letter, the higher education associations emphasized that international students contribute $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 375,000 American jobs. They play a vital role in advancing global scholarship and strengthening U.S. diplomacy.
ACE and its partners will continue to push for a meeting with State and DHS officials to clarify the administration’s approach, understand how terms like “support for terrorism” are being defined, and explore ways to protect national security without undermining U.S. higher education.