IOWA CITY, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – An international student at the University of Iowa has had their visa revoked, according to an email sent to members of the campus community.
The notification comes amid a national trend of university students facing abrupt changes to their citizenship status.
UI International Programs Dean and Associate Provost Russell Ganim emailed “international students and scholars” Thursday to inform them that the visa of a UI student was canceled. The university learned of this April 4, according to the email, and the UI International Student and Scholar Services reached out directly to the student with an offer to meet and describe next steps.
“The university did not initiate the action and was not aware of any violation,” Ganim said in his email.
Ganim did not identify the student in his email or provide information on their current situation. He said if the international services office learns of other students’ visas being changed or canceled, it will “reach out immediately to share guidance and outline next steps.”
The email also included resources for legal advice, which Ganim said the university cannot provide, including the Iowa State Bar Association, UI Student Legal Services and the Iowa Law law clinic. Students should check the federal updates page for international programs for additional information, Ganim said in the email, and reach out to international services if there are any questions or concerns.
“International students and scholars are valued members of the Iowa community,” Ganim said in the email.
Hundreds of international students across the U.S. are in similar situations, with universities from Texas to Oregon and Wisconsin, Ohio, Utah and more reporting changing immigrant statuses among their communities.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in March the State Department had canceled visas of 300 international students, the Louisiana Illuminator reported, some of whom participated in pro-Palestine protests. The Department of Homeland Security announced this week it will start screening immigrants’ social media for “antisemitic activity” and the “physical harassment of Jewish individuals.”
“This will immediately affect aliens applying for lawful permanent resident status, foreign students and aliens affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemitic activity,” the release stated.
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