Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on April 10, 2025
Source: Inside Higher Ed analysis, Ashley Mowreader/Inside Higher Ed
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On March 27, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the State Department had revoked 300 or more student visas, claiming these students were “lunatics.” Rubio claims students sought entrance into the U.S. “not just to study but to participate in movements that vandalize universities, harass students, take over buildings and cause chaos.”
There have been at least two visas revoked in Idaho, both at the University of Idaho. The university learned of those revocations by monitoring the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) website and was unaware Thursday if those students had been deported, according to Jodi Walker, a university spokesman. The university has not issued any blanket guidance to international students, Walker said.
“The university always strives to help all its students achieve their academic goals; and does so within the laws and policies governing it,” Walker wrote in an email.
As of the summer of 2024, there were 94 international students at the University of Idaho and 104 graduate or professional international students.
Idaho Education News reached out to all of Idaho’s higher education institutions and heard back from North Idaho College and BYU-Idaho. Both said there have not been any visas revoked on their campuses as of Wednesday.
— Emma Epperly, Idaho Education News
Over the past few weeks, more colleges and universities have shared that their students have lost their F-1 or J-1 student visas — some related to their activism and participation in student-led protests against the war in Gaza, others for minor crimes. Most college officials say they’re unsure of why foreign-born students had their legal residency status terminated or have yet to receive formal notification of the changes. A majority have yet to receive any communications from immigration authorities.
Based on public reports and direct correspondence, Inside Higher Ed compiled a data set of colleges and universities across the nation that have indicated visa revocations of current students or recent alumni. The database was first published April 8 and will be updated at least twice a day.
