BOSTON, Mass. (Diya TV) — More than 300 international students and recent graduates across top U.S. universities—including Harvard, Stanford, Yale, and UC Berkeley—have had their student visas abruptly revoked in recent weeks, according to school officials and immigration advocates.
The revocations have been tied to a range of reasons, including failure to maintain immigration status, minor criminal offenses such as DUIs, and participation in anti-U.S. protests or politically charged social media activity. The widespread cancellations, which some institutions only learned of after updates appeared in federal immigration records, have alarmed university administrators and immigration lawyers alike.
“We are still trying to get a good handle on what is happening,” said Shev Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). “This appears broader and more coordinated than past enforcement actions.”
Among the most high-profile cases is Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national and PhD student at Tufts University, who was reportedly detained last month by federal agents while walking down the street. Another case involves Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbia University, who allegedly had his visa revoked following his participation in pro-Palestinian protests. Both are currently being held in immigration detention, as federal authorities pursue their deportation.
Colleges across the country have reported unexpected terminations. Harvard University confirmed that three current students and two recent graduates were affected, while Stanford University acknowledged six students had their visas revoked. A spokesperson for Stanford added that the university does not share student or personnel information with immigration authorities unless legally required.
The Los Angeles Times reported that dozens of students and recent graduates across multiple University of California campuses—including UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Cruz—had their visas canceled in recent weeks. Two unnamed students have since filed lawsuits in federal court, alleging that their visas were revoked without due process, one citing a minor driving infraction as the reason.
The U.S. State Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have not responded to media inquiries about the recent surge in cancellations. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that over 300 student visas had been canceled in a broader effort to tighten oversight of international students, particularly those who may pose national security concerns.
“The scope and speed of these cancellations are unprecedented,” said Dalal-Dheini of AILA. “It’s leaving students, universities, and legal advocates scrambling for clarity.”
While the State Department has long held the authority to revoke visas, the timing and scale of this current wave have raised new questions about the motivations behind the crackdown. Advocacy groups point to recent anti-Trump protests in dozens of cities on April 5, where speakers cited the cases of Ozturk and Khalil as examples of what they view as politically motivated targeting of international students.
“This is not just about immigration compliance—it’s about freedom of speech and academic freedom,” said one protest organizer in New York, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal.
Additional cancellations have been reported at Dartmouth College, Minnesota State University, Arizona State University, and the University of Oregon, according to the Associated Press.
University administrators say they are working to support affected students while seeking clarification from federal agencies. Many are forming working groups to track developments and provide legal resources.
As schools continue to assess the fallout, the cancellations are drawing renewed scrutiny of federal immigration policies and their potential impact on higher education, student rights, and academic exchange programs that have long defined American universities.
