Visas revoked for two VCU students, one recent graduate: 1,234 nationwide and counting
Protesters gathered around Park Plaza at the ‘Hands Off Our Students’ walkout on April 15. Photo by Kieran Stevens.
Andrew Kerley, Contributing Writer
Two VCU students and one alum recently had their visas terminated, joining a national trend of hundreds of international college students having their immigration statuses changed.
The news first broke on April 10. Privacy laws prevent the university from sharing additional details, including why the visas were revoked, according to VCU spokesman Michael Porter.
At least 23 students in Virginia have had their immigration statuses changed as of April 12, according to data acquired by Inside Higher Ed. Adding to the total are 10 at George Mason University, nine at Virginia Tech and one at the University of Virginia. At least 1,234 international students and recent graduates have been identified nationwide as of April 15.
VCU leaders, including President Michael Rao and Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos, released a statement on April 11 saying the university “stands with the international community” and encouraged them to seek immigration lawyers.
“To our international Rams: You are a very important part of our community and highly valued for all of the good things you bring to VCU. You are vital. And you are not alone,” the statement read.
VCU Global Education Office Immigration Services sent an email on April 9 to 1700 international students, scholars and employees on visas sponsored by VCU recommending they “carry their documents” at all times. It also instructed students on their rights if approached by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
GEOIS has not been communicating with ICE or any other federal government regarding international students outside of the regular procedures required to get students sponsored, Director Paul Babitts stated in an email.
Concerns over free speech protections started after the high-profile ICE detainment of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil on March 8, according to the Columbia Spectator. Khalil, a Palestinian activist, served as a negotiator for the April 2024 encampment at the university that inspired students at hundreds of schools across the country to follow suit, including VCU.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched an initiative ahead of Khalil’s arrest to identify and revoke the visas of international students who “appear to support Hamas,” according to Axios. The reviews use artificial intelligence to scan the social media pages of thousands of students.
One international engineering student at VCU, who wished to remain anonymous, said they made an effort to study abroad and come to the United States. Now they receive constant worried calls from their family in their home country, where most schools do not accept transfer credits.
“It’s scary, just talking about an issue could get your whole educational career gone, just like that,” the student said.
Another anonymous international student said they came to America because their home country does not have free speech. They now feel unsafe and angry at current events, but afraid to speak out in fear of retribution.
“I feel very much betrayed by the American dream,” the student said.
The student said international students must choose between fighting for what they believe in and keeping all of their opportunities.
“At this point, they are not even trying to hide it,” the student said.
Dozens of VCU students on April 14 walked out of class in protest of the visa revocations and joined multiple non-students in a rally at Park Plaza. Protesters chanted, “We want justice, you say how! Hands off our students now!” One sign read “Keep ICE off our campus.”
Students for Justice in Palestine, one of the clubs organizing the event, asked students to email VCU administration to demand they provide legal services for students and become a “sanctuary campus.”
Sereen Haddad, a Palestinian student activist who spoke at the rally, said she does not think VCU is doing enough.
“Universities are not neutral spaces,” Haddad said. “They either choose to protect their students, or they enable a system that harms them.”
Bob Holsworth is one of the leading political analysts in Virginia, as well as a former VCU professor and Board of Visitors member. He said some students did nothing wrong, and are only being deported for expressing their free speech rights.
Universities are having trouble pushing back because they are acting alone, Holsworth said. They should organize a collective response and protect their students.
“You now have essentially hundreds of students who are going to be deported,” Holsworth said. “It could turn into thousands, who knows when it’s going to stop?”
International students bring tremendous value to universities, Holsworth said. They bring diversity, research skills and varied experiences and backgrounds that help students “acquaint themselves with the world.”
“I think it’s important to stand up,” Holsworth said.
Editor’s note: The Commonwealth Times has chosen to hide the identities of international students.
