Students react to nearly 50 international students’ visas being revoked, records being removed across Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Several educational institutions across Utah are reporting that international students are having their student visas revoked or their records terminated following a national trend of students’ records quietly being removed. Here’s what some students had to say.

ABC4.com spoke with students at Weber State University, which most recently reported that five international students had been affected by the recent immigration crackdown from the Trump administration.

“I wouldn’t think it’s fair to make people leave without a reason,” WSU student Marianne Rouliez told ABC4.com. “They are studying, they are contributing to this country, they are doing good things — so why would you get rid of them?”

Rouliez herself is an international student. She said she has been in Utah for so long that she feels like it is her home now.

“We are a benefit for this country because we are putting our minds and our effort and work here,” Rouliez said.

Fellow WSU student Makayla Carmen told ABC4.com that the recent revoking of student visas “feels unpatriotic.”

“Even when people do it by the books, it seems like they are just gonna get ripped away from them, and be told that… they’re not wanted here,” Carmen said.

How many students in Utah have been affected?

As of April 9, nearly 50 international students across seven different educational institutions in Utah have either had their visas revoked or had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records terminated:

• University of Utah — 20 students impacted
• Utah Tech University — 9 students impacted
• Southern Utah University — 9 students impacted
• Weber State University — 5 students impacted
• Utah Valley University — 3 students impacted
• Snow College 2 students impacted
• Utah State University — Did not disclose the number of students due to privacy concerns.

SEVIS records track and monitor the status of non-immigrant students and exchange visitors in the United States and are maintained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Why are international students’ visas being revoked?

While international students’ SEVIS records being terminated or their visas being revoked is not new, U of U said the practice is being approached differently than in the past. During any school year, an international student’s visa may be revoked if they get caught breaking the law or disobeying certain policies.

“What is different currently is that records are being terminated in SEVIS sometimes without notice to the university and/or the student,” the University of Utah said in a statement.

According to U of U, some of the reasons students were given for their visas being revoked included a criminal record check or “failure to maintain nonimmigrant status.”

President Donald Trump has previously said he would deport foreign students with connections to pro-Palestinian protests. Recently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said international students may be targeted for their suspected involvement in those protests across college campuses or if they are connected to “potential criminal activity,” the Associated Press reports.

What is a student visa?

In the United States, international students can obtain an F-1 visa or a J-1 visa, and both have different restrictions and requirements. Another option is an M-1 visa for vocational students.

According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigrant Services (USCIS), students on an F-1 or M-1 visa must be enrolled full-time in an “academic” educational, language-training, or vocational program at an approved institution.

Students on an F-1 or M-1 visa must be proficient in English — or be in courses that lead them to English proficiency — in addition to having enough money to support themselves during their studies. There are certain work restrictions for students on these visas as well.

A J-1 visa classifies someone as an “exchange visitor,” according to USCIS. This classification is authorized for people who are participating in approved programs designed for teaching, researching, training, demonstrating special skills, and more.

What’s next for international students?

Some Utah schools are reminding their international students and scholars to remain in good standing to preserve their status. U of U has advised its students to keep their immigration documents “valid and readily accessible.”

The University of Utah also directed international students toward some national organizations that can offer information and guidance, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Immigration Legal Resource Center, National Immigration Law Center, and the Immigration Advocates Network.

The Associated Press, Sorina Trauntvein, Derick Fox, and Kade Garner contributed to this report.

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