At least 600 students at more than 90 colleges and universities have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated in recent , according to an Associated Press review of university statements and correspondence with school officials.
International students in the U.S. are facing growing fear and uncertainty amid a wave of visa terminations, with at least 1,300 affected, according to college reports cited by NAFSA, a leading association for international educators. Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, said the post-9/11 shift placing student tracking under Immigration and Customs Enforcement has raised new concerns.
“You don’t need more than a small number to create fear,” Aw said. “There’s no clarity of what are the reasons and how far the reach of this is”
Many students report receiving no notice before their visa status was terminated. Legal limbo also affects graduates on Optional Practical Training, who are legally employed in the U.S.
“They’ve preyed on a very vulnerable population,” said attorney Charles Kuck, representing 17 students.
Others now carry documents daily, fearing sudden enforcement. “You don’t know whether you’re going to be the next person,” said a Chinese student.
