From California to North Carolina to Texas, no state is safe from the nationwide revocation of student visas. As of April 9, authorities have revoked international students’ visas in at least 29 states. No reason has been given for this widespread deportation. It is concerning that international services at UTSA did not notify the student body directly, given that four UTSA students have had their visas revoked.
Four current and three post-graduate UTSA students have been informed that their visas were terminated. While some students at other colleges have received vague statements about this new development, it is unknown why the four Roadrunners had their visas revoked.
Little to no information about these cases is available online, and there has not been enough communication with the student body addressing what is currently happening and how the university’s international students can stay safe. The deficiency of communication between the administration and universities is creating an environment of fear and uncertainty among students.
Visas can be canceled for several reasons, but college leaders say the government has been quietly terminating students’ legal residency status with little notice to students or schools. Historically, students who had their visas revoked were allowed to keep their residency and complete their education; an invalid visa only inhibits students’ ability to leave the U.S. and return. These recent actions are alarming as they go against precedent and leave students vulnerable to detention and deportation.
Nationwide, more than 600 students and recent graduates at over 100 colleges have had their legal status changed by the State Department. They stated they could not comment on specific cases but “will continue to work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to enforce a zero-tolerance approach for foreigners who violate U.S. laws or threaten public safety,” heavily implying the Trump Administration is yet again trying to silence people exercising their freedom of speech.
As of April 10, the State Department has revoked at least 72 other students’ visas across Texas. It is unsettling that UTSA has not publicly commented on this situation, as students must resort to learning about this situation through other sources and not the institutions. If students can simply have their status stripped from them without rhyme or reason, then this is not just bureaucracy — it is betrayal.
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