7 international University of Chicago students’ visas revoked under Trump admin

CHICAGO (WGN) — Some international scholars at Illinois universities are reeling after the federal government suddenly revoked their student visas without explanation.

According to the University of Chicago spokespeople, the federal government’s revocation has affected current and former students. On Wednesday, WGN News spoke with several Hyde Park campus-goers as the community reacted to the development.

“I feel very strongly about this that this is unconstitutional,” one woman told WGN News.

Michael Cohen, a University of Chicago post-doctoral student, said, “It’s all so unjust to these particular students, so I feel terrible for them.”

Cohen studies psychology and misinformation and suggests the news stokes students’ fear.

“In my lab, we have a couple of graduate students from China, and I know they’re worried as well about what their future is going to be,” he said.

The Chicago Maroon, the campus newspaper, was among the first to report that the federal government revoked student visas from three current students and four recent graduates. 

U of C instructional assistant Abigail Schwartz told WGN News that she hopes the administration has the student’s back.

“The university, hopefully, will do right by its students,” she said. “Hopefully, they’ll bring its resources to bear to protect them.”

The University of Chicago says it’s offering to connect the affected individuals with immigration attorneys and also addressed concerns in a written statement:

The University has a long history of supporting America’s position as a magnet for talented people from across the globe, and we will continue to work to assist the members of our international community.”
Statement from the University of Chicago

U of C joins Harvard and Columbia University in the recent surge of international students’ visa revocations. Many administrators echo similar complaints of this occurring with little to no explanation. 

In previous revocations of student visas at other prominent universities, the Trump administration argued that top administrators haven’t done enough to prevent antisemitism on campus. 

WGN News reached out to the White House for more details but has not yet heard back.

Other Illinois universities targeted

In addition to the University of Chicago, other Illinois universities say their students have been affected by the federal government’s revocation of visas.

The University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana said its students have been affected. The universities advised those with revoked visas to make plans to leave the country as soon as possible. 

Eight students at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville also reportedly had their visas revoked. 

So far, federal authorities have informed more than 300 international students nationwide about their visa status.