Residences at the University of Pennsylvania (Credit: UPenn Website)
Multiple international students at the University of Pennsylvania found out Monday morning that their student visas have been revoked and that they must return to their home country.
In an email sent Monday morning by Penn's International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), it was disclosed that the federal government has rescinded the visas of "at least three" students, according to the Daily Pennsylvanian, the University's newspaper.
The University became aware of these status alterations through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) database, an online platform managed by the Department of Homeland Security that monitors international students' records in the United States.
According to ISSS, these visa cancellations were due to "immigration status violations and not connected to the 2024 campus protests."
This development at Penn aligns with a broader national trend, as President Donald Trump's administration intensifies scrutiny of international students. Over 100 students, faculty, and researchers at American universities have experienced similar visa revocations, often without direct notification from federal authorities.
The ISSS email, signed by Vice Provost for Global Initiatives Ezekiel Emanuel and Vice Provost for University Life Karu Kozuma, acknowledged reports of encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on campus.
However, it clarified that federal agents have not been present in connection with these specific visa revocations. The message emphasized the University's commitment to supporting affected individuals, stating, "We want to reassure the community that we are monitoring and investigating all reports and providing appropriate support to people when these incidents arise."
It further recognized the unsettling nature of the current climate for international students and scholars, assuring that efforts will be made to provide timely guidance on recent immigration policy changes.
In response to these events, ISSS has launched a "SEVIS Termination F.A.Q." webpage, offering guidance to international students on steps to take if their visa is revoked. The site explains that a SEVIS revocation indicates an individual's "F-1 or J-1 immigration record is no longer active," typically resulting from non-compliance with U.S. immigration rules. It warns that a terminated SEVIS record means the individual is out of status and cannot legally study, work, or remain in the U.S., potentially leading to the accumulation of unlawful presence from the date of termination.
This situation unfolds amid President Trump's executive order in February directing federal agencies to identify and deport non-citizen participants of pro-Palestinian protests. The administration has since revoked more than 300 student visas, some belonging to students involved in such activism on college campuses.
At the time of publication by the Daily Pennsylvanian, the identities of the affected Penn students and the exact timing of the status changes remain undetermined.
