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A quiet but unsettling wave of student visa cancellations is rippling through U.S. college campuses, and not even Harvard has been spared. The university recently confirmed that five of its international students, three still enrolled and two recent graduates, had their visas suddenly revoked without explanation.
They are just a handful among hundreds. Since the start of President Trump’s second term, more than 300 international students have had their visas revoked, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The reasons, if given at all, range from minor legal infractions to participation in campus protests. In many cases, no reason is provided—only a notice and a deadline to leave the country.
A Widening Pattern Across the U.S.
Harvard isn't alone. More than 20 universities have reported similar cases. Arizona State tops the known list with eight affected students, followed by Stanford and Colorado State with six each. UMass Amherst, Ohio State, and Minnesota State University have each reported five.
The University of California system, which includes UCLA, UC Berkeley, and other major campuses, confirmed it's been impacted as well, though it hasn’t released specific figures. Several other institutions, including the University of Kentucky and the University of Cincinnati, say a “small number” of students have been affected, but the true scale may be far greater.
What This Means for International Students
What’s most alarming isn’t just the numbers but the silence. Students are being pulled out of their programs and told to leave, sometimes with no more than a vague mention of “compliance issues.” For those thousands of miles from home, it’s a jarring disruption, and one that raises questions about fairness and transparency.
And the message is resonating far beyond U.S. borders. The visa crackdown is sowing doubt among prospective students abroad, many of whom now wonder if the U.S. is still a safe or welcoming place to study. At a time when global competition for international students is fierce, universities fear the country’s reputation could take a long-term hit.
As schools scramble to provide legal assistance and press federal authorities for answers, advocacy groups warn that this may just be the beginning. For international students, whether they're already enrolled or just dreaming of a future in the U.S., the uncertainty is growing. And for those caught in the middle, one thing is now clear: even a prestigious education at a top-tier school doesn’t protect you from a revoked visa and a one-way ticket home.
*With information from abcnews.go.com
