Visas revoked overnight as hundreds of international students in US wake up to emails asking them to self-deport: Report

Not only those who were physically a part of the campus activism, but even those who liked 'anti-national' posts on social media will be at the receiving end of the emails, the publication quoted an immigration attorney as saying.

Participating in campus activism might have cost protestors their visas as hundreds of students woke up to an email from the US Department of State (DOS), asking them to self deport.

As per a report in The Times of India, a few Indian students might have also received this email even if they merely shared related social media posts.

Not only those who were physically a part of the campus activism, but even those who liked "anti-national" posts on social media will be at the receiving end of such emails, the publication quoted an immigration attorney as saying.

“On behalf of the United States Department of State, the Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office hereby information became available after your visa was issued. As a result, your F-1 visa with expiration date XXXXX was revoked in accordance with Section 221(i) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended," the email sent to the students read.

Adding that the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which manages the Student Exchange Visitor Programme, has been notified by the Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office, the mail said: "Remaining in the United States without a lawful immigration status can result in fines, detention, and/or deportation. It may also make you ineligible for a future US visa."

The students were also reportedly warned in the email that deportation could take place at any time and they will not be allowed to secure their possessions when it happens. "Persons being deported may be sent to countries other than their counties of origin," the mail warned, as it suggested the students to self-deport and depart the US using the CBP app.

This comes as the Trump administration rolled out a new app earlier this month that will allow immigrants in the United States illegally to 'self deport' rather than face possible arrest and detention, building on President Donald Trump's deportation push.

The US Customs and Border Protection app, called CBP Home, will offer an option for someone to signal their "intent to depart," the agency said.

This crackdown is reportedly based on social media reviews that are being conducted by the DOS. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has launched an AI-powered "catch and revoke" effort to revoke visas of foreigners who appear to support Hamas or any other terror group.

Meanwhile, Jath Shao, founder of an immigration law firm, suggested to the publication that it doesn’t seem like going back to apply for a new visa would be a "great option," for students, as he urged them to "seek legal counsel to help them reinstate their SEVIS or in a worse case, immigration attorneys can defend them if removal proceedings are brought against them."

Trump, a Republican, has vowed to deport record numbers of migrants who have been staying in the US "illegally". Trump's initial deportation numbers lagged the monthly average in fiscal year 2024 under Democrat Joe Biden, although Biden's deportations included many recent border crossers. The Trump administration has taken other steps that could pressure immigrants in the United States illegally to leave.

A Trump administration regulation set to take effect from April 11 would require people lacking legal status to register with the federal government or face fines or jail time.

(With Reuters inputs)