USC international students have had US visas revoked

Key Points

Multiple international students at the University of South Carolina (USC) have had their U.S. visas revoked.

This is part of a broader trend affecting universities nationwide, including prestigious institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and UCLA.

USC officials have not received specific reasons for the revocations, citing student privacy and a lack of information from the Department of Homeland Security.

Government Response

The U.S. Department of State has declined to provide details on the revocations, stating that they are part of routine border security measures.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned revoking at least 300 visas due to protest activity or potential criminal activity.

Impact on Students

Unlike previous visa revocations (often for alcohol-related infractions), these students have lost their student status in the Homeland Security system.

This puts them at risk of deportation and makes reinstatement significantly more difficult due to the lack of explanation from the authorities.

Legal challenges have been initiated in several states, with at least one court temporarily blocking the deportation of a student.

Possible Causes and Speculation

• Although no official reasons have been given, some speculations link the revocations to protest activities, though the USC protests mentioned in the article had charges dropped.