Universities across the U.S. are raising concerns after a wave of unexpected visa cancellations affecting international students, signaling what many believe is a new era of intense government oversight.
While visa revocations can occur for various reasons, college officials report that the recent terminations have been abrupt, with little to no prior warning given to students or their institutions. This approach is a sharp departure from previous procedures and has left affected students at risk of detention or deportation.
Institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, the University of Michigan, and Ohio State University have all reported cases of students losing their legal status without clear explanations.
The situation appears to disproportionately affect students linked to pro-Palestinian activism. Notably, Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and protest leader at Columbia University, was among those detained, drawing national attention and further stoking fears among international student communities.
