The Trump administration’s intensified scrutiny of international students has triggered deep anxiety among Indian students in the United States. Amid ongoing legal and political tensions, the US government has been revoking student visas and cancelling SEVIS records, affecting legal status and causing disruption in academic plans.
The US hosts over 300,000 Indian students, the highest number from any single country. Yet, a sweeping revocation drive—where SEVIS records were cancelled and visas revoked without thorough review—has created widespread alarm. Many students now hesitate to travel home or even within the country for fear of being denied re-entry.
A student from the University of California, San Diego, cancelled a planned vacation to Hawaii, fearing legal complications. Another at the University of Illinois expressed concern after witnessing a peer forced to leave the country post-SEVIS cancellation.
Responding to questions about growing student anxiety, a US State Department spokesperson said, “We revoke visas daily to protect America’s borders. This will continue.” They emphasized the distinction between visa issuance and SEVIS, the latter being managed by Homeland Security, which monitors student status after entry into the US.
Legal experts, including Charles Kuck, who represents over 130 affected students (a third of them Indian), advised that students whose SEVIS is revoked must immediately consult immigration lawyers. “They have the right to sue if there’s an illegal revocation,” said Kuck.
Sheela Murthy, head of Murthy Law Firm, criticized the approach, stating it appears to be AI-driven mass action without individual case analysis. “Most of these students have no criminal record. The process lacks due diligence,” she added.
After legal interventions, many SEVIS records have been restored, but the damage to trust remains. US visa issuance to Indian students has seen a steep decline, with a 50% drop in January compared to the previous year.
“The message from the government seems to be: We don’t want your best and brightest,” said Kuck, summing up the chilling effect the policy has had on international education in the US.
