Widespread confusion has taken over college campuses across the United States as hundreds of international students have had their visas abruptly cancelled, leaving many in legal limbo and fear. The cancellations, which have affected at least 901 students from 128 universities, are coming without warning, sparking panic among students and concern among immigration lawyers and university staff.
Legal professionals say the speed and unpredictability of the cancellations are alarming. According to Boston-based immigration attorney Matthew Maiona, what initially appeared to be isolated incidents have now become a wave of terminations happening rapidly and without clear explanations. While many of the affected students are from countries like India and China, reports confirm that no region is being spared. Nigerian students are among those caught in the sweeping measures.
Some students reportedly had their visa status terminated over minor infractions, including traffic violations. In Michigan, four international students have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, arguing that their status was revoked without a proper explanation. Similar legal actions are being pursued in other states, and a few federal judges have temporarily reinstated students’ legal standing in places like Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Montana.
Universities are now learning of these terminations not through direct communication, but by checking the U.S. immigration database, often discovering the changes before the students themselves are aware. This shift in process has left school administrators scrambling for answers and students anxious about their next steps, especially those on the verge of graduating or beginning post-study employment.
With no official statement from either the Department of State or the Department of Homeland Security, students and legal advocates are left speculating about the cause of this sudden enforcement wave. Some students are being told to leave the country immediately, while others have chosen to remain and challenge the cancellations in court, hoping to avoid detention or deportation.
In the midst of the uncertainty, students are making major adjustments to their daily lives. Many now carry their immigration paperwork with them at all times and avoid unnecessary travel, unsure of when or if they might be targeted next. For some, the situation feels unpredictable and frightening.
One Chinese Ph.D. student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill expressed deep anxiety, saying there’s a constant fear of being the next to lose legal status. The atmosphere on campuses is tense, as more students question whether their dreams in the U.S. will suddenly come to a halt.
