US Revokes Student Visas: Indian, Global Scholars Face Deportation

Post by: Elena Malik

A growing number of international students in the United States, including many from India, are suddenly having their student visas cancelled. The U.S. government is taking strict action, and the reasons behind these cancellations vary—from social media activity to very small legal issues like traffic violations.

Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has made immigration control a top priority. Recently, this has led to stronger enforcement on student visas, especially those issued under the F-1 visa program. Some of the top American universities, even Ivy League schools like Harvard and Stanford, have reported that student visas are being cancelled without warning.

Why are Visas Being Revoked?
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it is revoking student visas due to “national security concerns.” This includes suspected ties to pro-Palestinian groups, as well as small offenses such as speeding tickets or shoplifting—even if the charges were dropped.

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Some students believe they are being targeted for participating in protests or simply sharing or liking pro-Palestinian posts online. A few high-profile cases include:

• Badar Khan Suri, an Indian post-doctoral scholar, accused of spreading extremist propaganda—an accusation he denies.
• Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian green card holder.
• Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish scholar at Tufts University.
• These students were reportedly linked to anti-Israel demonstrations on campus.

Over 300 Visas Cancelled
On March 27, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the State Department had already cancelled more than 300 student visas. Students from well-known universities like UCLA, Michigan, Columbia, Ohio State, Boston University, and others are included in this list.

What is the F-1 Visa?
The F-1 visa is the most common student visa in the U.S. It allows foreign students to study full-time at approved colleges and universities. To keep their visa valid, students must:

• Stay enrolled in school full-time
• Keep good grades
• Not work off-campus during their first year unless they have special permission
• Show they can support themselves financially

Cancelled for Speeding?
Many students are shocked to learn their visas were cancelled for very small things—like traffic tickets or a shoplifting case that was closed. Some students were even told to leave the country immediately, a process called “self-deportation.”

Lawyers say such cancellations, known as SEVIS terminations, are usually rare. But now, they are increasing, and students are advised to get legal help right away.

Can Students Fight This?
Experts say it’s very hard to challenge a cancelled visa. Immigration lawyer David Bardavid told The New York Times that it’s nearly impossible to reverse the decision once a visa is denied. Even if a student hasn’t been found guilty of anything, being arrested or disciplined by their university can still lead to visa trouble.

What Happens After a Visa is Cancelled?
In the past, if your visa was cancelled, you could stay in the U.S. to finish your studies, but you couldn’t leave and come back. Now, many students are being asked to leave immediately. If they don’t, they could be detained by immigration authorities.

This change is making many international students nervous. Sarah Spreitzer from the American Council on Education said that the lack of information about why visas are cancelled is making the situation worse.

Indian Students in Trouble
Indian students are among those affected. According to The Hindu, some Indian students have been questioned—not for joining protests—but for social media activity like liking or sharing posts seen as pro-Palestinian.

During the 2023–24 academic year, over 3.3 lakh Indian students were studying in the U.S. Now, many are scared they could be next.

One Indian student, Ranjani Srinivasan, who was doing her PhD at Columbia University, had her visa cancelled suddenly and had to leave the U.S. Another student, Badar Khan Suri, was detained over accusations linked to his wife's Palestinian heritage. He believes he was targeted unfairly.

This growing crackdown has made life uncertain for thousands of international students, many of whom came to the U.S. to pursue higher education and build a better future.

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