Stanford and UC students caught in immigration purge over political ties—legal experts warn of constitutional violations.
The U.S. State Department has revoked more than 300 student visas in recent weeks, affecting dozens of students and alumni from California universities, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The cancellations are part of a broader move by the Trump administration, which is targeting international students allegedly involved in political activism—especially pro-Palestinian.
According to NBC News, the revocations have impacted individuals from at least six major universities: Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UCLA.
Stanford confirmed that six members of its academic community had their visas revoked—four current students and two recent graduates. The university discovered the cancellations through a routine check of the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) database and has provided external legal assistance.
The University of California system stated that the visa cancellations have affected multiple campuses, and they are assessing the impact while protecting student privacy.
At UC Berkeley, six individuals were impacted—two undergrads, two graduate students, and two alumni. The alumni were in the U.S. under the STEM OPT Extension, which allows international students to work in fields related to their studies for 24 additional months.
Other figures reported:
- UC San Diego: 5 students
- UC Davis: 7 current students and 5 alumni
- UCLA: 6 students and 6 alumni
UC Irvine acknowledged the issue but did not provide numbers.
While no official explanation has been provided, reports suggest the revocations may be linked to recent ICE detentions of pro-Palestinian academics. Rubio confirmed at least 300 visas were canceled in March alone, pointing to foreign students “involved in political activism.”
University administrators emphasized their commitment to international students’ legal rights and educational access, while immigration lawyers warned of potential constitutional challenges to the government’s actions.
So far, no federal agency has publicly outlined the legal reasoning or criteria behind the visa cancellations.
