Trump Administration Cancels Visas for International Students Across California

The Trump administration has revoked the visas of numerous international students from several top universities in California, including UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and Stanford.

University officials, faculty, and student groups have confirmed the cancellations, though the reasons for these actions remain unclear.

At UCLA, at least nine international students have been affected, according to a joint statement from faculty and student organisations. It’s not yet known whether any of the students were detained by immigration authorities or why their visas were revoked. Over at UC San Diego, Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said in a campus-wide message that five students had their visas cancelled. He added that the university was caught off guard, receiving the notification “without warning.” One of the students, Khosla said, was “detained at the border, denied entry, and deported back to their home country.”

“The federal government has not explained the reasons behind these terminations,” Khosla wrote. “The students have been notified and we are working directly with them to provide support.”

At UC Berkeley, a spokesperson said the situation was still “fluid,” but confirmed that at least six students had their visas revoked — four current students and two recent graduates.

UC Davis also reported that seven students and five graduates had their visas terminated. In a statement, officials said, “This number may change. Federal agents have not entered our campus, and they have not placed any member of our community in custody.”

A UC official, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that the visa cancellations also affected UC Irvine. However, spokespeople from the university did not respond to requests for additional information.

At Stanford, four students and two recent graduates had their visas revoked. The university did not specify why the visas were cancelled or whether arrests were made.

The University of California released a statement acknowledging that several of its campuses were affected by these visa revocations but did not provide further details. “We’re aware that international students across several of our campuses have been impacted by recent SEVIS terminations,” referring to the U.S. government’s Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. “We continue to monitor and assess its implications for the UC community and the people affected. We are committed to doing what we can to support all members of our community as they exercise their rights under the law. In doing that, the university will continue to follow all applicable state and federal laws.”

A spokesperson for USC, which hosts over 17,000 international students — the largest population in California — did not confirm whether any students at the university were impacted. “The university does not disclose information about the status of individual student visas,” the spokesperson said.

These visa cancellations are part of a broader pattern of similar actions that have taken place across universities in the U.S. Campuses like the University of Kentucky, the University of Oregon, and Ohio State University have also reported that student visas were revoked.

The Trump administration’s actions have sparked widespread concern, especially since many of the affected students were involved in pro-Palestinian activism. However, the administration has not explained the reasons behind these decisions. When asked about the protests, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in an email, “we’d have to look on a case by case basis.” She did not provide specifics on the number of affected students in California or which campuses were involved.

At UCLA, student government leaders released a statement on Friday acknowledging the concerns among their peers.

“We understand these are deeply uncertain times… To every international student reading this: You belong here. Your presence at UCLA makes this campus stronger, richer, and more beautiful. Our offices will continue to stand, speak, and advocate for you — loudly and unapologetically,” said Undergraduate Student Association Council President Adam Tfayli and International Student Representative Syed Tamim Ahmad.

A UC official clarified that the students affected at UC San Diego were not involved in pro-Palestinian protests.

Last month, the Trump administration started cancelling visas for students at universities such as Columbia, Cornell, George Washington, and Tufts, accusing them of antisemitism and ties to terrorism due to their support of pro-Palestinian movements. The administration claimed these students were aligned with Hamas, which the U.S. government considers a terrorist organisation, and said they posed threats to both national security and U.S. foreign policy.