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Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nine UT Knoxville students at risk for deportation after immigration status change
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A spokesperson for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, shared that they are aware of the status change of nine students. Kerry Gardner, director of Media and Internal Relations with UT, explained that the Center for Global Engagement staff became aware of status changes by checking the Student Exchange Visitor System database, as the university was not notified about the changes. The listing now states, 'individuals identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked. SEVIS record has been terminated,' according to Gardner. Body recovered, recovery mission for other missing teen continues after police pursuit in Loudon County 'Guidance for students and former students affected by status changes is case-specific, and details on their situations are private. Our priority is to provide as much support as appropriate to each person based on their circumstances,' wrote Gardner. Previously, Chancellor Donde Plowman said three current students and a former student who works at the university were at risk of being deported. In an internal letter sent to university staff, Plowman said the status changes took place amid Immigration and Customs Enforcement efforts to change the legal status of international students across the country. Hundreds of students, dozens of colleges hit by Trump's visa purge: What to know Plowman added that the university's Office of General Counsel has posted information for the campus community in case someone is approached by federal law enforcement on campus related to students. The Hill reports that hundreds of international students are seeing their visas revoked for infractions as minor as traffic violations, while colleges are having to check immigration databases to find out whether their students are still allowed to be in the country. An Inside Higher Ed tracker reports that more than 80 colleges and universities have been impacted by the visa revocations in a wide range of locations and sizes. In March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that more than 300 student visas were revoked under the Trump administration, with more coming every day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Tennessee chancellor says four on campus at risk for deportation after immigration status change
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — University of Tennessee, Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman said three current students and a former student who works at the university are at risk of being deported. In an internal letter sent to university staff, Plowman said the legal status of the four people in the Student Exchange Visitor System has changed amid Immigration and Customs Enforcement efforts to change the legal status of international students across the country. HHS staff cuts jeopardize program that helps Knox County seniors pay utilities As a result of the status change, they are no longer legally eligible to be enrolled or employed and are at risk of deportation. Plowman wrote that federal records indicate the students and former student were 'identified in a criminal records check.' The university researched the federal database and found that one student is on judicial diversion for a property crime, and another has been charged with driving under the influence. Plowman said that they are still working to determine the reasoning behind the status change for the other two people. ▶ See more top stories on She said the university's Office of General Counsel has posted information for the campus community in case someone is approached by federal law enforcement on campus related to students. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Four at University of Tennessee risk deportation after surprise change to immigration status
Three University of Tennessee at Knoxville students and one former student working on campus are at risk of deportation because of changes made by the federal government to their immigration status, according to an email Chancellor Donde Plowman sent April 4 to the campus community. UT's Center for Global Engagement discovered this week the changes to the students' immigration status in a federal immigration database that processes documents for international students and exchange visitors. The students' and former student's status were changed because they were "identified in a criminal records check," according to Plowman's email. The change means they are now not legally eligible to be enrolled or employed at UT and at risk of being deported. UT's research into the situation found one student is on "judicial diversion for a property crime and another has been charged with DUI," but UT hasn't determined the cause for the change for the other two individuals. The students are not named in the email. The database is called the Student Exchange Visitor System, and commonly referred to as SEVIS. It is maintained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "The Center for Global Engagement's International Student and Scholar Services is working to support these individuals as we continue to work to fully understand their situations," Plowman said in her April 4 email. "(The Center for Global Engagement) will continue to monitor SEVIS and reach out to any impacted students proactively." UT had 1,425 international students enrolled in the fall 2024 semester. International students require student visas to enroll at UT, and UT provides resources for current students including information on traveling, maintaining their status and employment. Former students can apply for H-1B sponsorships and O-1 sponsorships to remain in the country through employment, including at UT. Plowman's email details "unprecedented uncertainty" regarding international students on campuses across the United States due to Immigration and Customs Enforcement "systematically changing the status of international students." "Our international students, faculty, and staff are important members of our community, and we value the contributions they make to the mission of the university," Plowman said in the email. "The Center for Global Engagement will continue to keep our international students informed and supported." UT's Office of General Counsel posted instructions on its website for faculty and staff members who are approached by federal law enforcement about students. The website requires a UT login. Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Four at UT risk deportation after surprise change to immigration status
