Hundreds of international students ordered to leave the US over activism
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The United States has initiated a sweeping crackdown on international students, including some from India, by revoking their F-1 visas due to alleged participation in activities deemed anti-national.
The US Department of State (DOS) has reportedly sent emails instructing hundreds of students to leave the country or face severe consequences such as fines, detention, or deportation.
The crackdown, which has affected both students physically involved in campus activism and those who merely shared or liked certain social media posts, follows an announcement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to Rubio, more than 300 visas have already been revoked, including both student and visitor visas.
"We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas. Every country has the right to decide who comes in as a visitor and who doesn’t," Rubio stated during a press conference in Guyana. Speaking to reporters later, he confirmed signing every action related to the revoked visas.
The crackdown is bolstered by an AI-powered app called “Catch and Revoke,” launched by Rubio’s office to detect and cancel visas of students found supporting Hamas or other designated terrorist organisations. As part of this effort, new visa applications - whether F (academic study visa), M (vocational study visa), or J (exchange visa) - are being rigorously scrutinised.
Emails sent to students stated that their F-1 visas were revoked under Section 221(i) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act. The Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office has notified the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which manages the Student Exchange Visitor Program. This may result in official removal proceedings.
Students were also warned that staying in the United States without lawful status could jeopardise their eligibility for future visas and result in forced deportation. Furthermore, deportation could occur without allowing them to settle their affairs or secure their belongings.
To comply with the directive, students must present their passports to the US embassy or consulate that issued their visa for physical cancellation. Those wishing to re-enter the United States in the future would need to apply for a fresh visa, with eligibility determined at that time.
Rubio reiterated his stance during an interview, asserting that a US visa is “not a birthright” and that anyone found violating the terms of their stay must leave the country. “If you violate the terms of your visitation, you are going to leave,” he said.