World Immigration News

‘I am afraid’: Donald Trump's immigration crackdown triggers anxiety among international students

Release Date: 2025-05-04
Media: mint
Summary: International students at the University of California, San Diego—and across the U.S.—are facing growing uncertainty due to the Trump Administration 2.0’s crackdown on visa policies. Many students have canceled travel plans, both domestic and international, fearing sudden loss of legal status.

Since late March, over 1,200 students across 187 institutions have had their visas revoked or status terminated, with official data showing over 4,700 visa terminations. Universities are now warning international students to avoid non-essential travel, citing increased federal scrutiny, especially of students involved in pro-Palestinian activism.

Some students have gone into hiding or left the country voluntarily, often without clear explanations for the revocations. The shift in policy now allows for visa revocations to directly result in loss of legal status, even for students already in the U.S.—a departure from past practice.

Students are feeling anxious and unsafe, with many choosing to keep a low profile amid fears of deportation or denial of reentry.
Tags: USA