New Delhi: A recent report by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has revealed that Indian students have been disproportionately affected in the latest wave of US visa revocations. Out of 327 recent cases compiled by AILA, approximately 50% involved Indian students, followed by 14% from China. The remaining cases involved students from South Korea, Nepal, Bangladesh, and other countries.
The findings are part of AILA’s briefing titled “The Scope of Immigration Enforcement Actions Against International Students”, which sheds light on a growing crackdown by the US government on foreign student visa holders. The measures, launched under the “Catch and Revoke” program announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in March, involve increased scrutiny of international students, including monitoring their social media activities for signs of anti-Semitism or support for groups like Hamas.
Concerns have also been raised over the use of artificial intelligence in screening processes, which some critics argue could lead to inaccurate profiling of students who have no criminal records or links to campus protests.
According to data from the US Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the visa status of 4,736 international students—most on F-1 visas—has been terminated in recent months. Of the 327 revocation cases specifically documented by AILA, around 50% were students enrolled in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows F-1 visa holders to work in the US for up to a year post-graduation. These students are now unable to continue working.
The states most impacted by the visa revocations include Texas, California, New York, Michigan, and Arizona.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, a broader Associated Press review found that roughly 1,000 international students have had their visas revoked or legal status terminated since late March. While the majority are from India and China—who together represent over half of all international students in the US—the impact has extended globally.
The Indian government has acknowledged the issue. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We are aware that several Indian students have received communication from the US government regarding their F-1 visa status. We are looking into the matter. Our Embassy and consulates are in touch with the students.”
The situation has sparked concern among legal experts, who consider these administrative actions by US authorities to be unprecedented and potentially subject to future legal challenges.
