Corvallis, OR — A wave of anxiety and helplessness is washing over international students at several Oregon universities following a series of abrupt and unexplained revocations of their visa statuses.
Oregon State University (OSU) confirmed on Friday that the immigration records of 13 of its international students had been terminated, a move the university explained typically leads to a loss of visa status.
The situation has sparked significant concern and bewilderment not only among international students but also their domestic peers, with growing criticism directed at the federal government for the seemingly sudden and unexplained actions.
"It's really upsetting to know that the situation that's happening right now is out of our control," shared an OSU international student who wished to remain anonymous, highlighting the vulnerability felt by international students. "We went through so much, so many difficulties to come here, to get our visas, and for this to happen, it's really shocking for international students."
According to OSU, the students' records were terminated in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the federal database that tracks immigration records. The university stated it has received no information from federal authorities regarding the reasons behind these terminations.
In a statement released earlier this week to the university community, OSU acknowledged that while immigration records are often terminated for various reasons, they are "noticing a recent pattern of abrupt actions initiated by federal agencies nationwide" and are "increasingly reviewing student immigration records to provide support to impacted students."
The university further emphasized, "For international students and scholars who are generally maintaining their immigration status, the risk of sudden, arbitrary, or unnotified termination of immigration status is low. OSU has proudly sponsored countless promising students and scholars as part of our decades-long commitment to expanding access to higher education for students from our region and around the world."
(Photo courtesy of KGW News) Oregon State University says 13 of its students have been notified that their immigration records have been terminated.
The impact of these changes extends beyond OSU. Portland State University (PSU) has seen the visa statuses of two current students and one recent graduate revoked. PSU also reported receiving no explanation from federal authorities and is working to provide necessary support to the affected individuals.
The University of Oregon (UO) stated that the Department of Homeland Security had canceled the visa statuses of four international students due to issues discovered during criminal record checks. However, university officials noted they received no prior notification and have not yet been provided with specific details regarding the alleged violations.
UO added that the students had been in good academic standing. The university informed the students that they must depart the country within 15 days if they do not have other lawful means to remain in the United States.
Portland Community College (PCC) also confirmed on Friday that the visa statuses of three of its students had been terminated, with the college receiving no direct communication from federal authorities.
Meanwhile, Lewis and Clark College has indicated that they are not aware of any instances of international student visas being revoked at their institution at this time.
Concerns of Links to Trump Administration's Hardline Immigration Policies
These visa revocations are occurring against a backdrop of President Trump's continued emphasis on stringent immigration policies, raising concerns that the actions may be targeting students based on recent political activities, particularly involvement in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Kaila Washington, a fourth-year OSU student with a friend who is an international student, expressed her anxieties about the remaining four years of the Trump administration. "I'm worried he's going to take more away from us," she said. "Given the larger situation that's happening, I feel like it's easier for them to pick people out who have been more actively involved and slap criminal charges on them."
Students like Gabi Gomez, who has a non-citizen boyfriend, voiced concerns for her partner and all those potentially affected. "My boyfriend comes here every summer on a J-1 visa, and I'm terrified for this year," she shared, her frustration evident. "It's infuriating and disgusting that this is our reality."
The situation has cast a pall of uncertainty over the international student community at Oregon universities, with growing calls for clarity from the federal government and swift resolution for those affected.
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