Dear Erica,
Concerns and confusion continue to grow as reports of international student visa revocations by the U.S. State Department (DOS) and terminations of SEVIS records by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) continue. Today, NAFSA released an updated tally and analysis based on the field reports we’ve received since mid-March:
- We have received more than 1,400 reports of international students either having their visa revoked and/or their record in SEVIS terminated, thereby jeopardizing their legal status in the United States. This is an increase over our April 10 tally of 800, though the pace of new reports has slowed.
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There is no clear pattern or trend in terms of nationality of student. Students from more than 40 countries have been impacted. The five countries with the greatest number of students affected are India (301); China (285), South Korea (41); Saudi Arabia (40), and Nigeria (39). This aligns with the countries that have the largest international student populations in the United States.
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Undergraduate, graduate, and Optional Practical Training (OPT)/STEM OPT students appear to be equally impacted. Of the reports received, graduate students represent 35 percent of affected students; 33 percent are F-1 students on OPT/STEM OPT or J-1 visa holders on academic training, and 30 percent are undergraduate.
Read the NAFSA blog post for more detail.
There has been progress in stemming this wave of actions against international students and scholars. We are monitoring numerous lawsuits that have been filed on behalf of individuals which are in various stages of litigation. We will keep you posted of any major developments.
Congress is also turning up the pressure on the Departments of State and Homeland Security (DHS). We are aware of strongly-worded letters sent by U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, and U.S. Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA-02) in the House, demanding transparency and explanation.
U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) is leading a sign-on letter in the Senate that will be sent to leaders of DOS, DHS, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The letter seeks clarity on the number and nature of the SEVIS record terminations and visa revocations, as well as a release of new guidance so that students and institutions are able to see the standards that are driving these actions. See below for how to urge your senators to join the letter.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Courage,
Erica
Erica Stewart
Senior Director, Advocacy & Strategic Communications
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
