Visa crackdown leads international students in US to reconsider summer travel

On summer break from a Ph.D. programme, an international student at the University of California, San Diego, was planning a trip with a few friends to Hawaii.  

But after seeing international students across the United States stripped of their legal status, the student decided against it.

Any travel, even inside the US, just didn't seem worth the risk.

“I probably am going to skip that to ... have as few interactions with governments as possible,” said the student, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of being targeted.

International students weighing travel to see family, take a vacation or conduct research are thinking twice because of the Trump administration's crackdown, which has added to a sense of vulnerability.

Even before students suddenly began losing permission to study in the US, some colleges were encouraging international students and faculty to postpone travel, citing government efforts to deport students involved in pro-Palestinian activism. As the scale of the status terminations emerged in recent weeks, more schools have cautioned against non-essential travel abroad for international students.

University of California, Berkeley, for one, issued an advisory last week saying upcoming international travel was risky due to “strict vetting and enforcement.”

At least 1,220 students at 187 colleges, universities and university systems have had their visas revoked or legal status terminated since late March, according to an Associated Press review of university statements, correspondence with school officials and court records.

The number of affected students appears far higher, though. At least 4,736 international students' visa records were terminated in a government database that maintains their legal status, according to an April 10 Immigration and Customs Enforcement response to inquiries from Congress.

Suddenly at risk for deportation, some students went into hiding while others left the country on their own. Many of the students said they had only minor infractions on their records or didn't know why their records were removed.

After federal judges raised due process concerns in several students' cases, the US government reversed the terminations but then issued new guidance expanding the reasons international students can lose their legal status in the future.

Under the new policy, valid reasons for status termination include the revocation of the visas students used to enter the US. In the past, if a student's visa was revoked, they generally could stay in the U.S. to finish school. They simply would not be able to re-enter if they left the country.

The fast-evolving situation has left colleges struggling to advise students.

A Michigan college employee who helps international students navigate the visa process said they are inquiring more than ever about summer travel. The employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said he often has been unable to give sufficient answers.

Last year, the US hosted around 1.1 million international students, a source of essential tuition revenue at many schools.

Advocates say that number is likely to shrink as the crackdown hurts America's appeal.

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