Out of 327, 50% Indian students’ visa revoked under Trump administration

Amid the Trump administration’s extensive scrutiny of international students, over 1,000 visas now stand revoked, as per reports. 

The Department of State (DOS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are aggressively targeting international students, including those without a history of protest, for visa revocation, termination of their status, and removal.

“Out of the 327 visa revocation cases of international students collected by the organisation so far, 50% are Indians. The reasons for revocation are random and unclear. There is growing fear and apprehension,” shared by senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on X.

As per the press statement shared by Ramesh, “American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) collected 327 reports of visa revocations and SEVIS terminations from attorneys, students, and university employees.”

As many as 50% of these students were from India, followed by 14% from China. Other significant countries represented in this data include South Korea, Nepal, and Bangladesh, as per the statement.

The statement further read that 50% were on Optional Practical Training (OPT), meaning they had graduated and were employed in the United States. These individuals are unable to work immediately upon the termination of their SEVIS record. There is no mechanism to reinstate status for those who have already graduated and are employed on OPT, which is much more difficult and murkier than those who are currently students.

“Will the external affairs minister take note and raise the concern with his US counterpart,” asked Ramesh on X tagging S Jaishankar.

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