Lori Meadows
The Trump administration's 2020 ICE order caused confusion and distress for international students in the US. The order required international students to take in-person classes to remain in the country legally, despite the pandemic forcing many colleges to stop teaching in person. This caused issues for students who were unable to return to their home countries, such as Auster, a German law student at George Washington University. In addition to this, since March 2025, over 1200 international students have had their legal status terminated or visas revoked, with some being detained by ICE. This has led to fear and uncertainty for international students, who are now facing deportation and legal challenges.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of international students targeted | 300 (as of March 27, 2025) |
| Targeted students' nationalities | India, Palestine, Turkey |
| Targeted students' institutions | Columbia University, New York University, Columbia University's Teachers College |
| Targeted students' programs | Urban Planning, International and Public Affairs, Developmental and Child Psychology |
| Targeted students' visa types | Student visa, Green card |
| Reason for targeting | Pro-Palestinian activism, campus protests, old traffic offenses, minor offenses |
| Consequences | Detention, deportation, visa revocation, termination of legal residency status |
| Tracking system | Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) |
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What You'll Learn
International students' visas being revoked
The Trump administration has been accused of targeting international students by revoking their visas. This has caused uncertainty and stress for those involved, with many fearing deportation. The administration has expanded the grounds for cancelling international students' legal status in the US, allowing for quicker deportations. This includes the revocation of the visas students used to enter the country. In the past, students were able to remain in the US after their visas were revoked, but now they are expected to leave.
The State Department has revoked visas for students with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in critical fields. It has also announced plans to revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of future applications from China and Hong Kong. The exact fields deemed "critical" have not been identified. The Department of Homeland Security has also created a task force that uses data analytic tools to scour international students' social media histories for potential grounds to revoke their visas.
Colleges have been prompted to chaos and confusion as they discover that their students no longer have legal status. In some cases, colleges have told students to stop working or attending classes immediately, warning them of potential deportation. The government has defended its actions, stating that the change in the foreign students database was intended to be an "investigative red flag".
The new guidelines also allow for the revocation of students' status if their names appear in a criminal or fingerprint database. This has resulted in students with minor infractions, such as traffic violations, losing their legal status. Lawyers for the students have argued that the government is attempting to justify its previous actions in revoking visas.
Universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia have spoken out against the ICE order, with Harvard and MIT jointly filing a suit against DHS and ICE. The International Scholars Working Group within the Harvard Graduate Student Union has also been active in responding to the order.
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Students facing deportation
International students in the US have been facing deportation due to changes in visa rules during the pandemic. In 2020, the Trump administration announced that international students would not be allowed to stay in the country if their colleges were transitioning to online-only classes. This caused uncertainty and stress for students, who were unsure about their future plans, and led to universities like Harvard and MIT jointly filing suits against the Department of Homeland Security and ICE.
The situation has been further complicated by the federal government's use of the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to track international students. While SEVIS is typically used to monitor students' enrollment, addresses, and passport information, ICE agents have been cross-referencing SEVIS data with the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), a criminal records database. This has resulted in the termination of legal status or revocation of visas for over 1,200 international students nationwide, often due to minor offenses.
In Minnesota, at least three international students have been detained by ICE, and dozens more have had their legal status canceled. Some schools have advised these students to leave the country, while others have had their legal status reinstated. The uncertainty and fear caused by these developments have spurred international students to organize and respond collectively, with some choosing to challenge their deportation in court.
The impact of these changes goes beyond the immediate concerns of individual students. With more than 5,000 international students in Minnesota alone, a drop in enrollment could lead to program cuts or higher tuition fees for domestic students. Additionally, the collective response from international students has included working with university administrations and joining forces with other campuses to respond to the ICE order.
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Students' legal statuses being terminated
Since March, the legal residency status of more than 1,200 international students in the US has been terminated, and their student visas revoked with little notice. This is part of a campaign by the Trump Administration to detain and deport non-citizens over their pro-Palestinian campus activism. At least 300 international students who are "destabilizing" college campuses have had their visas revoked, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, he also stated that the number could be much higher.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has been cross-referencing student data from the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) with the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), a general database of criminal records. This has resulted in students being targeted for minor offenses, such as years-old traffic violations, protesting, and graffiti.
The Trump Administration has issued plans for a new policy that would expand federal officials' authority to terminate students' legal residency status. The policy outlines two new justifications for SEVIS terminations: "evidence of failure to comply" with non-immigrant visa terms, and visa revocation, which can be issued without evidence of a violation and is not subject to court challenges.
This new policy has sparked concern among immigration attorneys, who believe it would give ICE broad permission to deport students at will, with less accountability. While some students have had their legal status reinstated, the crackdown has caused fear among international students, with schools advising some to leave the country.
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Students scrambling to find in-person classes
International students in the US have been scrambling to find in-person classes to attend, following an ICE order that could see them deported if their colleges transition to online-only classes amid the pandemic. The ICE order has caused uncertainty and stress for international students, who are now at risk of losing their legal status and having their visas revoked.
In response to the order, students and professors have been working together to create in-person classes that international students can take to maintain their legal status. However, there is limited space available, and not every student will be able to secure a spot. This has left many students feeling like they are being told to "get out" of the country.
One student, Auster, a German law student at George Washington University Law School, shared his concerns about his future. He has lived in the US for five years and considers Washington his home. However, if he is unable to find an in-person class to attend, he may have to return to Germany and take his classes online, in the middle of the night due to the time difference. He is also unsure if he would be allowed to return to the US and is worried about his career prospects if he is unable to practice law in Europe with a US degree.
Another student, Aayush Khadka, a Harvard Ph.D. student from Nepal, has been actively involved with the International Scholars Working Group in responding to the ICE order. Nepal has closed its borders to international flights, so Khadka would have no way of returning home if he is forced to leave the US. The uncertainty caused by the ICE order has been a source of stress and worry for many international students, who are now facing difficult choices about their education and future plans.
The SEVIS registration system, which is used to track international students' enrollment, address, and passport information, has also been identified as a cause for concern. ICE agents have been cross-referencing SEVIS information with criminal records databases, leading to unilateral terminations and visa revocations for minor offenses, some of which are years old. This has further added to the anxiety and confusion experienced by international students, who are now facing deportation and legal challenges.
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Students' universities fighting ICE in court
In 2020, the Trump administration moved to block international students from entering the US if their colleges were transitioning to online-only classes amid the pandemic. This ICE order caused uncertainty and stress for international students, who found themselves in a confusing situation. In response, universities like Harvard and MIT jointly filed lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE. Students at other campuses also organized to respond to the order, either directly or by working with their university administrations.
International students also faced issues with ICE during the Trump administration due to their support of Palestine. At least five students and academics of color at US universities were targeted by ICE, with the administration citing national security concerns. A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order to prevent ICE from detaining a Columbia student, Yunseo Chung, who was in hiding after ICE attempted to detain her for her participation in pro-Palestine demonstrations. Another student, Rumeysa Ozturk, was transferred to a notorious ICE Processing Center in Louisiana after being detained, despite her attorney's petition for her to remain in Massachusetts.
ICE has also been criticized for detaining children who were in court with their parents and attempting to arrest a mother with an infant, raising concerns about due process. In addition to students, ICE has targeted congressional staffers and a high school student seeking asylum, leading to protests and lawsuits against the agency. Universities and students are fighting back against ICE's actions, both in court and through collective organizing, to protect the rights of international students and ensure their voices are heard.
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Frequently asked questions
ICE is the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
ICE has revoked the visas of over 1,200 international students across the U.S. and terminated their legal status, often over minor offences.
In 2020, ICE announced that international students must take in-person classes to stay in the country legally. This caused uncertainty for students whose colleges were transitioning to online-only classes due to the pandemic.
International students have been organising with groups like the International Scholars Working Group to respond to ICE's actions. Some universities, including Harvard and MIT, have also filed suits against ICE.
