01-05-2025
Virginia Tech community reacts after revoked visas are restored to international students
BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) — 19 Virginia Tech international students and alumni had their legal statuses restored by Monday, April 28.
In early April, the federal government revoked the legal statuses of thousands of international students. At Virginia Tech, spokesperson Mark Owczarski says that impacted four undergraduate students, ten graduate students, and five recent graduates.
'While their status changed, they were still able to go to school and continue with their studies but with the pressure and concern they were facing,' he said.
Students say it created an atmosphere of uncertainty on campus.
'Because we weren't being told why it was happening. In the cases where a reason was given, it felt sort arbitrary or purposely selected to be a broad range that would apply to the most international students in general,' said one graduate student who knew multiple people impacted.
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Tech has more than 3,000 international students and only 19 were reported to be affected. Owczarski says they're from several different countries. The university was not told why individual students had their statuses changed.
Records were restored after several lawsuits were filed around the U.S. 11 Hokies had their legal status returned Friday and another eight by Monday. However, the government says they're working to adopt a formal policy to revoke records.
Owczarski says Virginia Tech will continue to assist students as needed.
'While one's visa status might change, their status as a student at Virginia Tech will never change,' he explained.
He says international students are important to the university's mission of learning and research.
'International students, international scholars are critical to that effort because they bring the perspectives and the diversity of thought that is so essential,' he said.
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