Trump administration cancels six student visas at UNC Charlotte
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Six visas have been revoked at UNC Charlotte by the federal government as of April 9, a university spokesperson confirmed to Axios.
Why it matters: The Trump administration has stripped scores of students' visas across the country without explanation, Axios previously reported.
Context: UNC Charlotte is the area's largest university. As of the fall semester, 2,000 students from more than 90 countries were enrolled in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program at the university.
The latest: The reason for visa termination was "otherwise failing to maintain status" or "other" for all six people, per UNC Charlotte.
- Of the six individuals impacted, three students were actively enrolled.
- The other three graduated and were on optional practical training (OPT). OPT takes place before or after graduation for international students. It is a "temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student's major area of study," according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' website.
What they're saying: "UNC Charlotte has communicated with international students and scholars that we are actively monitoring SEVIS records and we are committed to providing accurate information and appropriate referrals to impacted individuals in accordance with federal law," a UNC Charlotte spokesperson tells Axios.
- "Impacted students are encouraged to consult an immigration attorney and their consulate immediately if they receive notification of a change to their SEVIS record."
Between the lines: SEVIS is a government website that keeps records of nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors in the United States, per U.S. Immigration and Customs.
Zoom out: Six students at UNC Chapel Hill, two at N.C. State University and two students and one person completing OPT at Duke University have also been impacted, according to reporting by the News & Observer and WUNC.
- A student at Appalachian State University has also had their visa terminated, WFDD reports.