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Economic Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
International students across the US are seeing their visas revoked
International students across the US in recent weeks discovered that their legal status had been terminated or their student visas had been revoked with little notice. On April 25, after mounting court challenges, federal officials said the government would restore international students' legal status while it developed a framework to guide future terminations. Then, in a court filing on April 28, it shared the new policy with an expanded range of reasons students' status can be cancelled. Lawyers for students who challenged the terminations said the new guidelines allow for quicker deportations and serve to justify the actions taken by the government earlier in the spring. Grounds for terminating students' status now include the revocation of the visas they used to enter the US. They also allow for terminating students' status if their names appear in a criminal or fingerprint database in a way that was not permitted in the past, plaintiffs' attorneys said. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) At least 1,222 students at 187 colleges, universities and university systems since late March have seen their visas revoked or their legal status terminated, according to an Associated Press review of university statements, correspondence with school officials and court records. But the number of affected students appears to be much higher. At least 4,736 students' visa records were terminated in SEVIS, the database storing international students records that maintains their legal status, according to an April 10 ICE Homeland Security Investigations response to inquiries from Senate and House committees. Students who come from other countries to study in the U.S. must obtain a visa, which requires them to demonstrate they have enough financial support to complete their course of study. They must first be admitted to a school that is approved by the U.S. government, and then generally interview at a consulate abroad to obtain their entry visa. Once in the country, international students must remain in good standing with their academic program, and are generally limited in their ability to work off-campus. After they graduate, they can work in the US for 12 months, and up to 36 months for STEM majors, before they must seek a longer-term employment visa. International students' status is maintained in a system called SEVIS, or the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. Generally, students' status is terminated in SEVIS when they fail to maintain standing with their program, or when they graduate or transition to a different visa. Terminations, until now, have largely been initiated by schools doing routine data updates. In recent weeks, colleges discovered their students' status to be terminated by the government, a significant shift from past practices. The terminations often had minimal written justification or notice from the government, leaving students with little information on why they are now out of status. Students have filed lawsuits across the country, with a number of temporary restraining orders granted in lawsuits from New Hampshire, Montana and Wisconsin. International students have also been caught in the crosshairs of a standoff between Harvard and the Trump administration, which has made various threats against the Ivy League institution after learning of its defiance against demands related to activism on campus, antisemitism and diversity. One of those threats involves a restriction on Harvard's ability to host international students.
New Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Sanusi says Saifuddin REE allegations damaged his reputation
ALOR STAR: Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor told the High Court here today that allegations made against him by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in 2023 had significantly damaged his reputation and political standing. Testifying in his defamation suit against Saifuddin, the Jeneri assemblyman said that accusations of stealing rare earth minerals and misappropriating RM1.6 billion in Malaysian Road Record Information System (MARRIS) funds had cost him votes during the 2023 Kedah state elections. He told High Court Judge Datuk Dr John Lee Kien How @ Mohd Johan Lee that the remarks, made on July 15, 2023, were particularly damaging as they had come from the Home Minister. "After the election, although I received a high number of votes, had those statements not been made, my majority could have been 30,000 instead of 16,000. The impact continues to be felt even today," he said when questioned by his counsel. Sanusi disagreed with the defence's suggestion that the remarks did not defame him. Sanusi filed the writ of summons and statement of claim through Faizi and Associates at the Alor Star High Court on Aug 3, 2023. He alleged that Saifuddin, also Pakatan Harapan secretary-general, defamed him by claiming he misused funds from MARRIS. According to the statement of claim, Saifuddin allegedly made defamatory statements during a speech at the Unity Tour Programme and the launch of the Kedah Unity Machinery event at Guar Chempedak public field in Yan on July 15, 2023, at 8.30pm. The speech was part of a political campaign by PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the lead-up to the state elections in August. Sanusi claimed that Saifuddin made defamatory remarks accusing him, as Menteri Besar and representative of Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI), of stealing rare earth elements (REE) in Kampung Chong, Sik, which received widespread media coverage. Earlier today, the plaintiff's side called four witnesses to testify, including Kedah MBI former CEO Muhamad Sobri Osman. Sanusi is represented by lawyers Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, Yusfarizal Yussof, Mohd Faizi Che Abu, and Nur Iffah Hizwani Omar, while the defence team comprises lawyers Navpreet Singh, William Leong, and Sakina Siraj. Proceedings are set to resume tomorrow at 11am, with Saifuddin and another witness expected to testify.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump cancels hundreds of student visas, forcing rapid departures
DENVER ‒ The Trump administration has revoked hundreds of international student visas across the country, setting off a desperate scramble for them to leave the United States within days. Universities have reported some students being forced to leave immediately, in many cases after discovering their visas were cancelled in the federal Student Exchange and Visitor Information System, or via an unexpected text or email. Multiple universities contacted by the USA TODAY Network regarding the visa cancellations declined to discuss specifics, citing student confidentiality. Immigration experts said they've never seen the federal government make such sweeping changes to the ordinarily low-profile process of hosting international students. The National Immigration Project is challenging the visa cancellations, which have affected students in California, Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Massachusetts and Florida, among others. The cancellations reflect a small percentage of the estimated 1.5 million international students studying in the United States, but have sent shockwaves through the collegiate community. Some of the cancellations appear to be connected to things as minor as roommate disputes or as off-campus traffic tickets, university officials said, while others appear to be connected to pro-Palestinian protest participation. "I've been doing this for 25 years and I've never seen 300 students lose their visas," said Len Saunders, a Washington state immigration attorney based near the Canadian border. "To hear that something like 300 visas were cancelled out of the blue … it's all political. To read that there's hundreds of people having their visas cancelled, you know exactly what it is." President Donald Trump won back the White House after campaigning on tough new immigration controls, and some conservatives have accused of other countries, particularly China, of sending students to study in the United States to steal intellectual property. International students are typically ineligible for financial aid and instead usually pay full tuition, subsidizing other students. According to the federal government, California is home to the largest number of international students, and the most popular majors among international students are computer science, language, and business administration and management. People from India and China represent the largest proportion of international students, accounting for about half of the overall enrollment, according to federal officials. There is no central accounting of how many students have had their visas revoked or where they came from. Many of the foreign students involved in campus protests were from the Middle East. Saunders said he's seen a handful of students annually lose their visas over things like a drunk-driving arrest, but in many cases, students were allowed to finish out their studies. This round of visa cancellations has prompted some students to leave immediately, including those who are close to graduating. At the University of Michigan, officials said they were trying to figure out how to help an international student finish his architectural master's degree work despite fleeing home. The visa cancellations appear to be different than the targeted detentions of Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk, largely because the students are not being detained but are instead being told to self-deport within seven days. The cancellations have sparked scattered protests, including at the University of Arizona. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that he's revoked at least 300 visas of students he described as "lunatics," citing pro-Palestinian support or activism, activities that are normally considered protected First Amendment rights. "It might be more than 300 at this point. We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas," Rubio said at a press conference. Colorado State University officials said six students there lost their visas, and university officials escorted some of them to the airport to fly home. It's unclear whether the students have the right to appeal their visa revocations. "To date, no specific justification for the visa revocations has been provided to the impacted individuals or CSU," Kathleen Fairfax, the university's vice provost for international affairs, said in a statement. "We are working proactively with the students to help them connect with appropriate legal resources and understand their options. CSU is providing this support based on students' personal decisions." At the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Chancellor Javier Reyes said five international students lost their visas and urged other students to check their own status. He said affected students are being offered financial assistance through the university's "Angel Fund," which was created during the first Trump presidency to help students affected by changes in immigration laws. Reyes, who first came to the United States from Mexico on a student visa himself, called the American higher education system "the envy of the world" and promised international students "unwavering support as we confront this new reality." New York University Prof. Robert Cohen, who studies protest movements, said targeting students because they attended rallies or wrote pro-Palestinan letters is a thinly veiled attempt by Trump to clamp down on dissent. "It speaks to the issue that Donald Trump and these right-wing people don't actually believe in free speech," Cohen said. The American Council on Education and 15 other higher ed groups have requested a briefing from federal officials. The groups noted that Trump has the responsibility and right to safeguard national security, but asked for an explanation of the decision-making process. "Recent actions have contributed to uncertainty and impedes the ability of our institutions to best advise international students and scholars," the groups wrote in an April 4 letter to Rubio and other officials. "It is important institutions are in a position to reassure international students so they can continue to make exceptional contributions to their campuses, communities, and the nation." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump cancels hundreds of student visas
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration cancels visas of 13 UW-Madison international students and alumni
Bascom Hall, University of Wisconsin-Madison. (Ron Cogswell | used by permission of the photographer) President Donald Trump's administration canceled the visas of six current University of Wisconsin-Madison students and seven alumni who had employment extensions, the university announced. Universities of Wisconsin spokesperson Mark Pitsch said in an email that there have also been cancellations at other UW campuses and the system is working on gathering more information. 'We are aware of visa terminations other than those described at UW-Madison. Resources for students are available through our universities,' Pitsch wrote. The cancellations come as the Trump administration has been cracking down on immigration, including the presence of international students in the country. UW-Madison said in a press release Monday that it played no role in the cancellations. According to the release, UW learned from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) that the students' records were terminated. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin told the Faculty Senate that it wasn't contacted directly about the cancellations and only learned about them because staff has been reviewing federal databases every day to see whether students have been affected. UW-Madison noted that a status termination generally means an affected person should depart the United States immediately. UW-Madison's office responsible for providing services to international students has contacted the students and alumni whose visas were canceled to advise them about the potential consequences of the cancellations and provide information about legal resources if requested. UW-Madison also said that while it's not uncommon to see terminations for many reasons, it and peer institutions have seen an elevated volume and frequency of terminations over the last week. On March 28, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that at least 300 visas for international students have been revoked. Rubio told reporters that every time he finds 'one of these lunatics,' referring to students that have participated in protests, he takes away their visa. The cancellations have taken place at other institutions in the Midwest including University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Minnesota State University in Mankato as well as other institutions across the country, including at University of California institutions, Colorado State University and Arizona State University. In some cases, the cancellations have been tied to activism related to Palestine, while others have been tied to criminal infractions and in some cases, traffic violations. UW-Madison said the 'precise rationale' for the termination of the visas is unclear, but that it doesn't believe they were specific to participation in any 'free speech events or political activity.' The university hasn't responded to an inquiry for more information about the students. Some of the students targeted by the Trump administration have been outspoken activists against the war in Gaza. Mahmoud Khalil, a former student at Columbia University who helped lead pro-Palestinian protests on campus, was detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is being held in a Louisiana detention facility with federal authorities claiming to have revoked his green card. Tufts doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish citizen with an F-1 student visa, was detained by mask-wearing DHS agents as she was leaving her off-campus apartment in Massachusetts. She is also being held in Louisiana. UW-Madison said it is not aware of federal law enforcement activity on campus as of Monday. 'International students, faculty, and staff are important members of the UW–Madison community, and the university deeply values their presence,' the university said in the statement. Mnookin also told faculty that while she can't force people to, she is hopeful faculty will use their discretion to offer accommodations to affected students to help them finish their courses and degrees. UW-Madison also pointed students to resources included in an update from April 2. In that update to its international community, UW-Madison said it understood that ICE's detainments of students at other institutions were 'highly unsettling — especially for you and our broader international community.' 'You are a valued and integral part of campus life, not only for the perspectives you bring to our teaching, research, and engagement mission, but also for the many ways you enrich the university's social and cultural life,' Vice Provost and Dean Frances Vavrus said in a statement earlier this month. 'We continue to be deeply grateful for your presence at UW–Madison.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration revokes dozens of student visas
April 7 (UPI) -- The Trump administration revoked the visas of at least two dozen more students across the country over the weekend. The Harvard Crimson reported Sunday that three Harvard students and two recent graduates have had their student visas revoked, and the chancellor of University of Massachusetts Amherst announced Friday that "five international students have had their visas revoked and student statuses terminated by the federal government." University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco sent a statement out Saturday which explained that "two current students and five other members of our university community including recent graduates participating in training programs" had their student visas revoked, and non-immigrant statuses terminated. The University of Michigan's school newspaper The Michigan Daily reported Sunday it had received an email from a university spokesperson who confirmed that four students there had their visas revoked, with one who has since "left the country following recommendations of University officials." The email, stated that "a small number of U-M students have had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, records terminated and their visas revoked without notice to the university." Several California colleges also announced visa revocations over the weekend. Stanford University announced Friday that "four students and two recent graduates have had their student visas revoked," which the university only allegedly learned "during a routine check of the SEVIS database." The University of California Office of the President released a statement Friday that the school is "aware that international students across several of our campuses have been impacted by recent SEVIS terminations." UC Berkeley's The Daily Californian reported Saturday that "visas issued to six members of the UC Berkeley community were terminated this week," while UC San Diego's Guardian reported Friday that "five UC San Diego international students had their F-1 visas suddenly terminated," and that a sixth student was detained at the border, denied entry and then deported to their home country. UCLA's Chancellor Julio Frenk announced Sunday that "the Student and Exchange Visitor Program had terminated the SEVIS status of six current students," and that six former students currently participating in the Optional Practical Training program also had their status terminated. Chancellor Gary S. May of UC Davis released a statement Saturday that "seven students and five recent graduates have had their F-1 visas terminated," and then added, "This number may change." Secretary of State Marco Rubio said to the press in March that at least 300 visas have been revoked, mostly over pro-Palestinian protests.
