The Trump administration has revoked student visas for foreign students who have spoken out against Israel’s strikes on Gaza. This policy has affected students in colleges and universities across the Sun Belt, including Texas A&M University and Florida International University. The number of revoked visas has been made public by various institutions, with Texas A&M reporting 23 revoked visas and Florida International University reporting 18. Other schools affected include New Mexico State, the University of North Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, and Rice University.
This policy has spread beyond New York City and New England colleges to states that Trump won in 2024, such as Texas, Florida, and North Carolina. Secretary of State Marco Rubio estimated that 300 foreign scholars had their visas revoked last month. The policy gained attention after a former Columbia University postgraduate, who had protested against Israel’s actions in Gaza, was arrested by ICE agents for a revoked visa.
The Trump administration has been targeting foreign students critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza, with some being deported for alleged ties to terrorist organizations. The administration has used an obscure provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 to justify these deportations. Many have criticized this policy as an attack on free speech and activism.
University representatives have discovered revoked visas by checking the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. A SEVIS record termination can result in the termination of a student’s legal status in the country. The government’s actions have sparked protests and legal challenges, with concerns about due process and the targeting of foreign-born students for their activism.
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