The Trump administration has canceled over 300 international student visas across the nation without warning, including at least nine at UCLA.
As of Sunday, the federal government has not explained why.
UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk addressed these actions in an update to the Bruin community on Sunday, saying the terminations and revocations “understandably created a great deal of questions.”
The statement said that at least six current students and six former students were affected by the government’s actions.
At UCLA, the chancellor explained, students with international visas are entered into the web-based Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
This system is used and monitored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website, SEVP “acts as a bridge for government organizations that have an interest in information on nonimmigrants whose primary reason for coming to the United States is to be students.”
The chancellor’s message specified that, during a routine audit of SEVIS records, UCLA officials learned that SEVP terminated the SEVIS status of six current students.
“SEVP also terminated the status of six former students currently participating in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program,” detailed the chancellor’s statement. “These numbers are fluid and may change.”
According to the school, the termination notices indicated that these federal actions were due to violations of the terms of the individuals’ visa programs.
“At this time, UCLA is not aware of any federal law enforcement activity on campus related to these terminations,” added the chancellor’s note.
While the federal government has not directly commented on revoking these student visas, President Trump repeatedly stated that he would use his time in office to enforce his administration’s immigration policies.
In addition, at the top of the ICE website is a yellow banner marked with an exclamation point symbol that reads, in part, “If you are aware of student visa fraud or nonimmigrant students working unlawfully in the U.S., report it here.”
“I’m a big believer in due process, and it seems these terminations were done without due process,” said Adam Tfayli, the student body president at UCLA.
Tfayli, who is also an international student, said that non-international students are just as worried about the scope of these terminations.
“A lot of people are concerned over the legality,” Tfayli told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo. “We don’t have a lot of information about what’s happening and why it’s happening.”
As for the local effect of these student visa terminations, Chancellor Frenk said the UCLA staff recognizes it can evoke feelings of “tremendous uncertainty and anxiety” to the community.
“We want our immigrant and international UCLA students, staff and faculty to know we support your ability to work, learn, teach and thrive here,” continued the chancellor’s message. “You are not alone. You belong at UCLA, and you are an essential part of our community.”
Click here to view the chancellor’s full message, which includes resources for students and others affected.
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