The Trump administration has revoked student visas and terminated students from a tracking system for foreign scholars in the South, affecting public and private colleges and universities across the Sun Belt. Institutions like Florida International University, Texas A&M, New Mexico State University, University of North Carolina, Middle Tennessee State University, and Rice University have reported changes in the immigration status of their international students. The University of Texas at Austin also confirmed that multiple foreign students had their immigration status changed recently.
This crackdown on foreign scholars comes as the Trump administration has targeted hundreds of college and university students, with specific attention paid to those engaged in political activism. One high-profile case involved a former Columbia University postgraduate who led protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza and was subsequently arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The administration has accused him of supporting Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.
Despite efforts by his legal team to challenge his deportation, an immigration judge ruled in favor of deporting him, citing an obscure provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Trump administration has faced criticism for targeting foreign-born students involved in activism, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicating support for these deportations. The administration’s actions have sparked protests and accusations of silencing free speech.
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