Editor’s note (4/27/2025): this story is accurate as of 4/27. Later updates may not be reflected.
In light of the recent executive orders issued by the present presidential administration, student visas have become a hot topic of discussion throughout the country.
Numerous college campuses — including Columbia University, Brown University, and more — have experienced a federal crackdown on visa holders.
Some of the University of Rochester’s international members have felt similar pressures. In a letter to the University community April 9, President Sarah Mangelsdorf and Provost Nicole Sampson confirmed that five current students and six recent graduates have had their visas revoked. Nine of the eleven have had their information terminated in the Student and Exchange Visitors Information System (SEVIS) that is maintained by the Department of Homeland Security and tracks immigration information of international students for the duration of their stay in the United States.
In an April 25 University-wide letter, the University said that of these nine, three students have had their SEVIS records reinstated. This news was broken hours after the Department of Justice issued a large-scale reversal of visa revocations.
According to Inside Higher Ed, some international students may be subject to visa revocation for failure to meet the terms of their F-1 visa, which include being enrolled as a full-time student, not working off campus during their first year, having enough money to support themselves, and maintaining a residence abroad.
As of April 27, no UR students have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or any other law enforcement organization in connection to their visa status.
In response to recent developments, UR SA drafted a letter to Congress urging Rep. Morelle, Sen. Schumer, and Sen. Gillibrand to support immediate protections and push for long-term legislative solutions, as stated in a campus-wide email sent by the organization.
The University itself is part of a group of higher-education facilities that have sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem requesting clarification on international student, faculty, and staff visas.
Additionally, University Provost Nicole Sampson, who took the helm in early February, explained in an interview with the Campus Times that University leaders are working to recommend appropriate actions and responses.
“We’ve all seen how quickly things can change,” Sampson said. “In many cases, we need to continue to do the important work we are here to do, support our community as much as we can, and wait to see how the courts evaluate litigation about the executive orders that come to them.”
The University provides numerous resources to students for information on immigration, legal status, visas, and more. These include informational webinars by the International Students Office (ISO) and web pages on immigration updates and federal policy changes and FAQs.
According to University Spokesperson Sara Miller, the University is constantly monitoring the immigration status of its students through SEVIS.
“Once a change in a SEVIS record is noticed, they [ISO] have immediately contacted the impacted student(s) to connect them with needed resources to evaluate their best enrollment and legal options,” Miller told the Campus Times. Throughout it all, ISO has been standing by to provide support resources to any international student or scholar who may have questions or concerns.”
