Nearly 40 international students in the United States have had their visas revoked, reportedly due to minor traffic offenses.
Experts and advocates believe the move is part of a broader immigration clampdown by the Donald Trump administration, targeting how universities handle international students.
One of the affected students, Lisa from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, was just weeks away from graduation when she received a shocking email. “ISS is writing to inform you that your SEVIS record was terminated,” it read.
Initially thinking it was spam, Lisa later confirmed online that she had been placed “out of status” — a condition shared by dozens of other international students.
Lisa’s alleged offense? Two minor traffic tickets from the previous year. She had been fingerprinted after appearing in court.
The termination of a SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) record leaves students with only 15 days to leave the U.S., failing which they risk deportation or future entry bans.
Reports indicate that students from over 50 universities — including Stanford, UCLA, UC San Diego, Ohio State, and the University of Oregon — have been affected. A shared spreadsheet compiled by students has been circulating, detailing similar experiences: small traffic violations, court appearances, and sudden visa terminations.
Despite many students having clean records — and in some cases, dropped charges — termination letters reportedly cited “criminal records.”
Most revocations occurred around April 4, following U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s March 27 announcement about visa cancellations.
“Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas,” Rubio said, claiming the action was necessary for national security.
Legal experts, however, have raised concerns about the process and its legality. “Students weren’t given any chance to explain their situation,” said Shenqi Cai, an immigration lawyer from Lashine Law in California. She emphasized that “they were terminated under one broad directive, seemingly triggered by automated screenings that don’t account for state-by-state differences in legal definitions.”
Cai added, “Fingerprinting alone should not equate to a criminal record,” noting that 90% of the affected students had previously been fingerprinted for minor or dismissed offenses.
The consequences have been severe. David, a Chinese student on Optional Practical Training (OPT), lost his job authorization overnight. His employer is now trying to relocate him to Canada, but he only has 15 days to leave.
Another student, Bill, received a ticket for driving with an expired license. Although his case is still in court, he now faces a legal trap — staying to attend court could lead to detention, but leaving the country breaks his legal obligation.
“Worst case, I don’t graduate. I go home and start college again. Four more years. And then what?” Lisa lamented.
As panic spread, over 300 students joined an emergency Zoom call with federal immigration attorney Brad Banias. “It’s not a legal move, it’s a political one,” Banias said during the call. “They’re criminalizing parking tickets.”
He added, “This isn’t just about students. It’s about the message the government is sending: that no one is safe.”
With students struggling to find help and lawyers offering discounted — yet still expensive — support, many face an uncertain future.
“The dust of history falls on me, and it becomes a mountain,” said Bill.
