Hundreds of international students, including Nigerians, are being forced to exit the United States following a sweeping visa crackdown by the Trump administration. The move has seen student visas abruptly cancelled, with little to no explanation provided in many cases.
“Do not attempt to remain in the United States. The federal government will find you,” read an alarming email reportedly sent by the Department of Homeland Security, shared by immigration attorney Nicole Micheroni.
Several students have allegedly been arrested without prior warning, sparking confusion and fear among international scholars. According to lawyer Dustin Baxter, who is representing more than 100 affected students in a lawsuit against the government, many of the targeted individuals had no criminal records and were not involved in protests.
“Visas were revoked even without convictions. In some cases, there wasn’t even an arrest—just an encounter or a minor citation,” Baxter told CNN.
In some instances, students first learned about their visa revocations not from immigration officials, but from their schools. Many universities also claim they received no formal notification. For example, Stanford University discovered visa cancellations for four students and two recent graduates only after reviewing government records in the SEVIS database during a routine check.
“This marks a major shift,” said Jeff Joseph, president-elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. “Before Trump, revocations were usually initiated by designated school officers. Now ICE is acting unilaterally.”
One high-profile case involved Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University doctoral student who was handcuffed and detained just days after her visa was cancelled without prior notice. According to court documents, surveillance footage captured her screaming in confusion and fear during the arrest.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the cancellations were executed under a clause targeting individuals deemed to pose “serious foreign policy consequences.” The State Department reiterated its broad authority to revoke visas at any time and warned that monitoring continues even after a visa is issued.
“We are continuously monitoring visa holders,” a State Department spokesperson said. “Those who do not comply with the terms of their visa will have it revoked and face removal.”
