There is growing concern over recent strict actions taken by the United States against international students—especially among Indian students. According to a report published by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), nearly 50% of the 327 student visas recently cancelled were issued to Indian students.
The AILA report titled “Scope of Immigration Enforcement Actions Against International Students” stated that 14% of the affected students were from China, while the rest came from countries like South Korea, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
Reasons Behind Visa Cancellations and the Controversy
Over the past four months, the U.S. Department of State and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been reviewing information about international students. Some sources claim that artificial intelligence (AI) is being used in this screening process, which has mistakenly targeted students with no criminal background or involvement in campus activism.
In March of this year, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new initiative called “Catch and Cancel,” under which student visa holders are being identified and monitored. Their social media activities are being scrutinized to check whether they have participated in anti-Israel or pro-Hamas protests, conferences, or expressed views in favor of Hamas.
Through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), international students are being tracked. According to data from the U.S. State Department and ICE, a total of 4,736 student visas have so far been cancelled in the SEVIS system, most of which were F-1 visas.
A large number of these cancelled visas belonged to students under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows students to work in the U.S. for one to three years after completing their degree. Due to the visa cancellations, these students can no longer continue working. The most affected states include Texas, California, New York, Michigan, and Arizona.
India’s Response
In response to these incidents, the Indian government has taken action. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said in a statement, “We are aware that many Indian students have received notifications regarding their F-1 visas from the U.S. government. We are looking into the matter, and our embassy and consulates are in contact with the affected students.”
Additionally, a review by the Associated Press showed that since the end of March, visas of nearly 1,000 international students have either been cancelled or their legal status changed. Although the majority of these students are from India and China, lawyers argue that this move is not specifically targeted at students from any one country. Instead, the crackdown primarily affects those who have expressed anti-Israel sentiments.
This wave of visa cancellations not only raises concerns for Indian students but also calls into question the state of global education. In such circumstances, stronger diplomatic coordination between the U.S. and the affected countries has become essential to ensure the safety, dignity, and future of international students.