SALT LAKE CITY — A wave of alarm is spreading through the University of Utah as the Trump administration has reportedly revoked the visas of at least 20 international students and recent graduates, demanding their immediate "voluntary departure." This action marks the largest known instance at a single university as part of a national effort by the federal government to challenge the legal residency of international students.
According to The Salt Lake Tribune, the visa revocations began early last week, sowing confusion and fear among the affected individuals and the broader university community. The University of Utah initially acknowledged on Tuesday that 17 students were impacted, with the number climbing to at least 20 by Wednesday afternoon.
The Salt Lake Tribune contacted Utah's eight public universities to gauge the reach of the situation. By Wednesday morning, the collective responses indicated that over 50 students statewide had received visa revocation notices:
Weber State University: 5 students
Snow College: 2 students
Salt Lake Community College: 3 students
Utah Valley University: 3 students
Utah Tech University: 9 students
Southern Utah University: 9 students
Utah State University: An unspecified number of students have been affected; the university declined to provide an exact figure citing privacy concerns.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that approximately 300 international students and recent graduates nationwide have had their visas revoked, spanning institutions from private schools like Harvard University to public systems such as Ohio State University and the University of California system.
A letter obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune, sent to affected students at the University of Utah, warns, "Remaining in the United States without lawful immigration status may result in fines, detention and/or removal from the United States. It may also make you ineligible for future United States visas. Removal could occur without allowing you time to gather your belongings or finalize your affairs in the United States."
The letter further advises that upon removal, individuals could be sent to a country other than their home nation and encourages them to voluntarily depart and later apply for a new visa.
The University of Utah, which hosts the largest number of international students in the state (3,138 in the last fall semester) and the highest proportion (9% of the total student body), is expected to bear the brunt of these actions. This is partly attributed to the university's robust international recruitment efforts for its globally recognized medical and research programs.
The Trump administration has also reportedly targeted the funding for some of these programs at the University of Utah.
Approximately half of the University of Utah students whose visas were revoked are from China, with the remainder originating from the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Some are incoming freshmen. Other universities did not immediately provide a breakdown of the affected students' nationalities.
In a statement, the University of Utah said, "As a public higher education institution, we comply with state and federal law. We are in a time of increased immigration enforcement."
University of Utah President Taylor Randall and other top administrators sent a letter to campus on Wednesday, emphasizing that the university's "3,000 international students and scholars are an integral part of what makes the U of U a vibrant and creative community with diverse life experiences, geographic backgrounds, beliefs and perspectives." They urged faculty to exercise maximum flexibility to ensure international students can complete their academic work this semester.
The precise reasons for the visa revocations remain unclear. Most of the affected students do not have criminal records, with some having minor traffic violations. One student was reportedly accused of attempting to breach a fence at the Dugway Proving Ground, though detailed information about the incident was not immediately available.
Some visa revocation notices reportedly cite only "other failure to maintain status" as the reason.
The Trump administration has previously targeted students involved in pro-Palestinian protests on campuses nationwide this past spring. However, in the case of the University of Utah, these visa revocations do not appear to be directly linked to the campus protest and encampment in April, during which police in riot gear arrested 21 individuals. No charges were filed against the arrested students.
The University of Utah's Office for International Students & Scholars (OISS) is reaching out to the affected students individually to provide support. The office is also informing all international students about maintaining their legal status and providing information on legal resources should they need assistance.
The university advises students to carry copies of their I-94 records, visa documents, and passport stamps at all times and to avoid unnecessary travel outside the U.S. Counseling services are also being offered to students experiencing emotional distress.
The students whose visas were revoked held F-1 visas, and their records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which is managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have been terminated. SEVIS allows federal officials to track a student's legal status.
To obtain an F-1 visa, students must meet a series of requirements, including proof of acceptance at a U.S. school, submitting an application, and undergoing an interview. They must also demonstrate financial support for their studies and maintain good academic standing.
Typically, a student's visa can be revoked if they fail to maintain full-time enrollment, violate the terms of their employment authorization, or are deemed a security risk.
Historically, even if a student's visa was revoked, they could often remain in the SEVIS system to complete their studies before departing. However, the Trump administration is reportedly taking the additional step of terminating SEVIS records, often with little notice to the schools. This forces universities to actively monitor students' status changes to inform the affected individuals.
This situation is anticipated to significantly impact the University of Utah and other U.S. universities' ability to attract and retain international students. Anxiety among the student population is growing, and universities will likely need to bolster their support for international students and proactively respond to evolving government policies.
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