Four recent San Francisco State University graduates have had their F-1 student visas revoked, officials confirmed Tuesday. The terminations come amid a crackdown by the Trump administration on international students at U.S. colleges and universities.
At least 36 foreign students across the California State University system have recently lost their visas, according to university officials.
“No international students currently enrolled at SFSU are affected. However, we are aware of four recent graduates with F-1 status who had their status terminated,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
On Tuesday, UC Berkeley said an additional 13 students and recent graduates have had their visas terminated, bringing the university’s total to 19.
In the overall University of California system, there have been “approximately 50 students and recent graduates … who have been impacted,” UC President Michael Drake said in a statement.
Federal officials have not given advance notice to UC representatives about the changes to the students’ status, Drake said. However, files in a government database said the affected students had violated the terms of their visas, according to his statement. University authorities are unaware of any federal law enforcement raids taking place on campus, Drake said.
“Since our founding, international students, scholars and faculty have enriched our excellence in research, teaching, patient care, and public service,” Drake said. “They are integral to our academic and civic life, and vital to breakthroughs that have benefitted our community, the country and the world.”
Representatives of Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Foreign students must remain in full-time programs to maintain their F-1 visas, with some exceptions, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The threat to foreign students and visa holders has loomed large since the arrest last month of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student activist. The Department of Homeland Security warned on Wednesday that international students and other noncitizens could lose their immigration benefits by making antisemitic posts on social media.
Cal State students, faculty, and other staffers are urged to “carefully assess the necessity of international travel,” according to a message on the system’s website. “Visa holders may face increased scrutiny or delays when re-entering the U.S., particularly if they traveled to or transited through countries experiencing diplomatic strain with the U.S. or under heightened security.”
UC Berkeley confirmed that six members of its community had their visas revoked by the federal government last week: an undergraduate, three graduate students, and two recent graduates participating in the STEM Optional Practical Training program. Newly affected are three undergraduates, six graduate students, and four recent graduates in OPT programs.
“The campus is supporting those impacted in accordance with its long-standing procedures for visa revocations,” UC Berkeley said in a statement. “We are providing them with resources to navigate the process and are encouraging them to seek legal counsel for guidance.”
Students at Stanford have also lost their visas. The university initially said on Saturday that four current students and two recent graduates had lost their visas. On Tuesday, Stanford’s said in a statement it was aware of additional revocations, but did not specify how many “since these numbers can change frequently.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations suggested that the visa cancellations are politically motivated.
“The Trump administration has made it clear it will target students based on their First Amendment activity,” Hussam Ayloush, CEO of CAIR California, said Monday. “It is unacceptable — and deeply un-American — for students to be punished for standing up for human rights.” CAIR added that it would work with affected students, campus groups, and legal partners to investigate the cancellations and provide support.
San Francisco immigration attorney Fariba Faiz said she has fielded inquiries from students about visa revocations and unexplained terminations. She described the enforcement approach as “uncharted territory.”
Visa revocations have historically occurred for issues like DUI arrests, but the current situation appears different, she said.
“ICE appears to be bypassing school officials and directly cancelling [Student and Exchange Visitor Information System] records and effectively terminating F-1 status without notice or individualized process,” Faiz said Monday by email. “This … exposes students to detention or possible removal.”
The approach is similar to actions taken during the Carter administration in 1980, when Iranian students’ visas were revoked during the hostage crisis, Faiz said.