Washington (AP) – Over 1,000 international students Visa or legal status has been revoked In recent weeks, several have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration.
The federal action to end students' legal status has put hundreds of academics at risk of detention and deportation. Their schools range from private universities such as Harvard and Stanford to large public institutions such as Maryland and Ohio State University, to several small liberal arts colleges.
At least 1,024 students from 160 university, university and university systems have revoked their visas. Legal status has ended Since late March, it has been reviewing the Associated Press' university statement, communications with school officials and court records.
In a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, students argue that the government lacks legitimacy to cancel visas or terminate legal status.
Why does the government cancel visas for international students?
Visas can be cancelled for several reasons, but the university says some students have been chosen for violations that are as minor as traffic violations for a long time in the past. In some cases, students say it's unclear why they were targeted.
“The timing and uniformity of these terminations leave little doubt that DHS has adopted national policies for the massive termination of student (legal) status, whether written or not.”
In New Hampshire, a federal judge issued a restraining order last week in the case of Xiaotian Liu, a computer science student at Dartmouth University in China, who ended his status by the government. The lawyers have filed similar assignments in federal courts in Georgia and California.
Homeland Security authorities did not respond to messages seeking comment.
In some well-known cases, including detention of Columbia University activists Mahmoud Khalilargued that President Donald Trump's administration should be allowed to deport non-citizens rather than involvement in pro-Palestinian activities. However, for the majority of visa revocations, the university says there are no indications that students who affected the protest have been affected.
“What's happening with international students is part of a much larger scrutiny that the Trump administration endures all different categories of immigration,” said Michel Mittelstadt, director of spokesmanship for the Institute for Immigration Policy.
How does a student visa work?
Students from other countries must meet a set of requirements for obtaining a student visa (usually an F-1). After enrolling in a US school, students go through an application and interview process at the US embassy or overseas consulates.
F-1 visa students must have sufficient financial support for research courses in the United States that must remain in good health in their academic programs, and must demonstrate that their ability to work off-campus during academic programs is limited.
Admission visas are administered by the State Department. When they are in the United States, the legal status of international students is overseen by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program under the Department of Homeland Security.
Over the past few weeks, many university leaders have learned that some legal residences of international students have been fired when university staff checked a database managed by Homeland Security. In the past, legal status has been normally renewed after the university told the government that students were not studying in schools, according to university officials.
After losing a legal settlement, students are told to leave the country
Historically, students revoking their visas were permitted to maintain their legal residence and complete their studies.
The lack of a valid entry visa limits the ability to leave the US and return home. However, if a student loses his legal residence status, he risks detention by immigration authorities. Some students have already left the country and have abandoned their studies to avoid being arrested.
Higher education leaders worry that arrests and visa revocations will discourage foreign students from pursuing higher education in the United States.
Sarah Spretzer, vice president of government relations at the American Council of Education, said the lack of clarity that has led to the withdrawal could create a sense of fear among students.
“The very public action taken by the Department of Ice and Homeland Security over some of these students is removing these students from the home and on the streets. It's not usually done unless there's a security issue when the student visa is revoked,” she said. “This very quick removal threat is new.”
The university is trying to reassure students
In their message to campus, the university says it is asking the federal government for answers on what led to their fire. Others have reemphasizing travel precautions for students, and recommend carrying a passport or other immigration documents.
University leaders spoke of growing uncertainty and anxiety.
“These are unprecedented times, and the principles that serve as our usual guideline for living in a democratic society are being challenged,” wrote Prime Minister Marcelo Suarez Orozco of the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in an email. “As the speed and depth of change occur, we must be considerate about how best to prepare, protect and respond.”
Suárez-Orozco said that legal residency status has been cancelled for two students and “five members of the university community, including recent graduates participating in the training program.”
___
Associated Reporter Christopher L. Keller contributed from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
___
Associated Press Education Compensation receives financial support from several private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the AP standard For charity, list of ap.org supporters and funded compensation areas.
