Reports indicate that federal authorities have revoked the visas of students at two Ohio universities, continuing a nationwide crackdown.
According to reports, the feds revoked the visas of four Kent State University students and a “small number” of University of Cincinnati students. The Kent State students included an international student and three post-graduate students.
“Kent State values its international students,” Todd Diacon, the university’s president, wrote in a campus email, according to Ideastream Public Media. “They are a part of our community. They are Golden Flashes.
“We celebrate them at events throughout the academic year, and especially at Commencement,” Diacon added. “We are deeply committed to working with our current students to devise degree completion options, and with our recent graduates to assist with their situations. Our dedicated professors and academic leaders are devoted to this work, and we thank them for making the best of unprecedented circumstances.”
The three Kent State University post-graduate students had “Optional Practical Training post-graduate work permits,” which is “temporary employment related to a student with an F-1 visa’s area of study,” Ideastream reported. “F-1 visas allow international students to study in the U.S.”
The University of Cincinnati students were on F-1 visas, WCPO-TV reported.
“While we are aware that this is happening at universities across the nation, we have not been contacted by authorities, nor have we been given specific reasons for these revocations,” University of Cincinnati President Neville G. Pinto said in a letter, according to WCPO-TV. “I recognize this is deeply alarming news, and especially for members of our international community who are here to enrich their family.”
The Cincinnati television station spoke with several University of Cincinnati students who said they were shocked by the feds revoking the students’ visas.
“I felt very saddened that this came to the choice, knowing that we are a really diverse place and have a lot of international students here,” the station quoted one student. “I think it makes it a little difficult for students to pick a college that represents them.”
The crackdown on student visas isn’t limited to schools in the Buckeye States. Reports of similar actions have surfaced in several states, including Arizona, Colorado, and New York.
According to CBS News, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the State Department canceled more than 300 visas, which he said were “primarily” student visas. Many reports on the crackdowns have indicated that the feds are at least partially targeting pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel students.
“We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist, to tear up our university campuses,” WKYC-TV quoted Rubio said recently. “And we’ve given you a visa, and then you decide to do that, we’re going to take it away.”
Federal authorities have ramped up immigration enforcement since President Donald Trump took office for his second term, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids taking place in jurisdictions nationwide.
According to an Associated Press report, the foreign student crackdown “is alarming college leaders, who say the Trump administration is using new tactics and vague justifications to push some students out of the country.”
According to WKYC, Diacon noted: “There are many factors here beyond our control, but we will continue to engage with law enforcement and our campus partners to make sure our university community is informed with the latest guidance.”
Immigration lawyer Jonathan Grode was quoted by CBS News, stating, “This administration hasn’t changed the law. They’re just telling the referees to call the game differently. They’re saying, be stricter, use all the tools you have available to effectuate this behavior. That’s the big difference. That’s why it feels so jarring.”
