Hundreds of international students in the United States have been stunned by emails from the US Department of State (DOS), informing them that their F-1 student visas have been revoked, effectively instructing them to self-deport.
This sweeping crackdown, believed to be targeting students involved in campus activism, has extended beyond those who directly participated in protests.
Students who simply shared, liked, or commented on “anti-national” social media posts have also come under scrutiny, igniting concerns over the limits of free expression for foreign students in the US.
This development comes at a time when Indian students constitute a significant portion of the 1.1 million international students studying in the US for the 2023-24 academic year, with 331,000 of them hailing from India, according to the latest figures from the Open Doors report.
What is an F-1 Visa?
The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows international students to reside in the US for academic purposes at accredited institutions.
Applicants must be accepted into a full-time program at a certified institution, demonstrate English proficiency or enrol in language courses, and provide proof of sufficient financial resources to support their education and living expenses in the US.
US Crackdown on F-1 Visa Holders
The crackdown follows statements from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who confirmed that several international student visas had been revoked due to “anti-national” activities.
Rubio stressed the US's right to control who enters the country, stating, “Every country in the world has a right to decide who comes in as a visitor and who doesn’t.”
Additionally, Rubio referenced the recent launch of an AI-powered app, "Catch and Revoke," designed to detect students supporting organisations like Hamas.
As part of the growing scrutiny, even new student visa applications are now under review, with the DOS closely monitoring applicants' social media activities. Those deemed guilty could face visa denials, preventing them from studying in the US.
Startling Emails for Students
The emails sent to students informed them that their F-1 visas had been revoked under Section 221(i) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act.
The message warned students that staying in the US without legal status could result in fines, detention, or deportation, and could even see them sent back to countries other than their home nations.
The email further instructed students to use the CBP Home App, introduced during the Trump administration, to facilitate their departure.
Students were warned not to use their revoked visas and must present their passports at the US embassy or consulate upon leaving the country.
Concern Among Students and Immigrants
Secretary Rubio has previously stated that visas are not a "birthright," stressing that those who violate the terms of their visitation will be forced to leave.
“If you violate the terms of your visitation, you are going to leave,” Rubio said in an appearance on CBS News’s Face The Nation.
This situation has sparked significant concern, particularly among international students who question the intersection of free speech and US immigration law.
One student, who anonymously shared their experience on Reddit, expressed shock over their visa revocation despite having no criminal record and maintaining good academic standing.
The student admitted to posting political memes but questioned whether that should impact their F-1 status, asking, "Don’t we have freedom of speech in the US?"
This crackdown has ignited a wider debate about the implications of social media activity on students' legal status in the US.
