Florida students' visas revoked amid Trump immigration crackdown
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
Federal immigration authorities have revoked the visas of at least two dozen international students from Florida universities.
Why it matters: The Trump administration has expanded efforts to revoke student visas nationwide — often without immediate explanation — leaving many students scrambling and fearful.
The big picture: Nationally, more than 1,000 students have had their visas revoked, per Inside Higher Ed.
- The administration has claimed some lost their status because they were affiliated with pro-Palestinian protests.
- For others, revocation was attributed to a crime or traffic offense or reasons unknown, Axios' Avery Lotz reported.
State of play: As of Monday morning, at least 26 student visas had been revoked across the state — 18 from Florida International University and eight from the University of Florida, according to Inside Higher Ed, which is tracking the revocations.
- At FIU, 11 were current students, while seven were recent graduates on Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows students with F-1 status to receive training, the Miami New Times reported.
Reality check: But the number of students affected could be far greater, with the burden falling to universities to track changes and inform those impacted.
Case in point: The University of South Florida in Tampa told Axios the university is aware some students "have experienced a change in their visa status," but declined to provide a number when asked.
- Changes to students' visas could be made by the federal government "without notice or explanation" to the university, a spokesperson said.
The latest: At least three public universities — UF, USF and Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton — are seeking partnerships with federal authorities to carry out immigration enforcement on campuses, the Associated Press reported.
- If approved, campus police would be able to interrogate anyone they "believed to be an alien," per the AP.