CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – International students across Illinois are facing sudden visa revocations with little explanation from federal authorities and universities.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale, SIU Edwardsville, Northern Illinois University (NIU), and the University of Chicago have all confirmed students losing legal status, with no exact numbers, often citing privacy laws like FERPA.
“If the university is concerned that a student is losing the[ir] visa without the government presenting adequate reasons, the university can ask the student if it can disclose the information,” said Freivogel, who specializes in media law. “Presumably the governor’s office, if concerned about the situation statewide, could try to collect information in the same way — asking students if they want to waive their FERPA rights so that people can get a better picture of what is happening statewide and nationwide.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are reportedly revoking visas based on allegations of visa violations and students participating in campus protests perceived as “counter to U.S. foreign policy,” such as pro-Palestinian activism. A new directive also allows the government to monitor immigrants’ social media for signs of antisemitism — which could affect visa status.
“What is deeply distressing about the news — that an international student’s visa was revoked — is the chilling silence around it, which only adds to the sense that we are powerless in the face of multiple attacks on the very existence of universities as places of learning, questioning and nurturing the next generation,” said Jyotnsa Kapur, a professor in cinema and media studies and the director of the University Honors Program at SIU Carbondale.
University officials say they are working with affected students, but details are yet to be provided. Legal experts argue that secrecy raises concerns about constitutional rights and due process. State lawmakers like Rep. Katie Stuart and Sen. Dale Fowler say they are in the dark and call for more information.
“I had a couple of students in my office — they don’t want their names to be known — but they told me that there is absolute alarm about what can happen. One student was taking an after-dinner walk and a car just sat there with its lights on for 15 minutes. The student was actually afraid they may be picked up by ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] like the Tufts student,” Kapur said.