The Trump administration has been revoking student visas for foreign students who have been vocal in their opposition to Israel’s strikes on Gaza. This policy has affected colleges and universities in the South, with Texas A&M and Florida International University reporting high numbers of revoked visas. Other institutions affected include New Mexico State, the University of North Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, and Rice University. The policy has spread beyond New York City and New England to states that Trump won in 2024, including Texas, Florida, and North Carolina.
The administration has revoked the visas of at least 300 foreign scholars, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The policy gained attention after a former Columbia University postgraduate, who protested Israel’s actions in Gaza, had his visa revoked and is facing deportation. The Trump administration’s campaign against campus protesters critical of Israel and its war against Hamas militants has stirred controversy and protests across the nation.
The basis for revoking visas has been expanded to include alleged failure to disclose information on residency applications. The administration has targeted foreign-born students whose main transgression seems to be activism. University representatives have discovered that they were teaching students with revoked visas by checking the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. The termination of a student’s SEVIS record essentially terminates their legal status in the country.
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