नेपाल सम्वत् ११४५ चौलागाः ५ (बैशाख ५ , २०८२ ) अप्रिल १८, २०२५ ,शुक्रबार, बाँपीझ्याला ।Hundreds of international students studying in the U.S. have recently and abruptly lost their visa status, with little to no explanation from the government. What started in early April with a few students discovering their legal status had been terminated has now turned into a wave, with immigration attorneys and colleges reporting a surge in cases. At least 901 students from over 128 colleges and universities have been affected, according to the Associated Press, and advocacy groups believe the real number could be much higher.
Many of the students involved are from India and China, but the terminations appear to cut across nationalities and types of institutions—from large public universities to small liberal arts colleges. In several cases, the only known infractions were minor traffic violations like speeding tickets, or in some cases, no known violations at all. Some students learned their status had been revoked only when they were informed via email by their universities. Lawsuits have been filed in multiple states, and some judges have temporarily restored students’ legal status while the cases proceed.
Unlike previous procedures, where visa status was updated only after colleges notified the government that a student was no longer enrolled, the recent revocations appear to be happening directly through federal action without institutional input. Colleges have been shocked to find students’ status changed when checking government-managed immigration databases. Legal experts say the lack of clarity and sudden nature of these actions have created widespread fear and confusion.
Some students have been advised to leave the U.S. immediately to avoid deportation risks, while others have stayed to appeal their cases. The crackdown has also affected graduates working under Optional Practical Training (OPT), a program allowing them to remain and work in the U.S. post-graduation. Lawyers are representing dozens of affected students and say the situation highlights how vulnerable international students are under the current administration’s immigration enforcement approach.
For many, the biggest concern is the unpredictability. A Ph.D. student from China at the University of North Carolina said she now carries her passport and immigration documents with her at all times, fearing she could be next. “That’s the scariest part — not knowing whether you’re going to be the next one,” she said.
