UCSD students face visa revocations and deportation amid Trump immigration push
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Trump administration's immigration crackdown is hitting international students at UC San Diego. So far, six students with foreign visas have been impacted.
'It's unbelievable. I'm having such a great time. I don't want to go back home,' French international student Kaz Muniesa said.
Muniesa is enjoying his year studying abroad at UC San Diego.
The French native is pursuing computer science on an F-1 visa, which allows international students to enter the U.S. for the purpose of studying at colleges and universities.
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'A student visa is a glorified tourist visa, so it's a privilege that you're being allowed to come into the United States,' said Saman Nasseri, immigration and employment law attorney.
Immigration law attorney Saman Nasseri says the federal government can revoke student visas at its discretion.
'If you ever had an arrest, even if no charges were filed, that can be a reason to get your student visa revoked,' Nasseri said.
Five UCSD students had their F-1 visas terminated 'without warning,' according to a campus-wide notice from the chancellor's office Friday.
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The notice states 'the federal government has not explained the reasons behind these terminations.'
It added, 'one student was detained at the border, denied entry, and deported to their home country.'
All six students' country of origin remains unclear.
'More commonly what we're seeing right now is students who are protesting, whose beliefs or behaviors are not aligned with the U.S., and so they're being deemed as a security risk or a national risk,' said Nasseri.
Thousands of San Diego students rallied on their college campuses last May, voicing opposition to the Gaza war.
'It's really stressful. I remember some of our friends went to Mexico for spring break. I don't know maybe coming from the Middle East or from countries where there's more tension with the U.S., it might be more stressful to cross the border,' Muniesa said.
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Late last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during a press conference the State Department has revoked 300 or more student visas.
The UC office of the president issued a statement that reads, 'The University of California is aware that international students across several of our campuses have been impacted by recent SEVIS terminations. This is a fluid situation, and we continue to monitor and assess its implications for the UC community and the people affected. We are committed to doing what we can to support all members of our community as they exercise their rights under the law. In doing that, the University will continue to follow all applicable state and federal laws.'
'Hopefully the mechanisms are there and the courts allow these students to be able to challenge these decisions,' Nasseri said.
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