The US government has revoked the visas of four international students enrolled at Columbia University, according to an email from University Provost Angela Olinto. According to a report in Columbia Spectator, the University discovered the revocations through its regular monitoring of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System ( SEVIS) and was not directly informed by federal authorities. The timeline of the visa terminations remains unclear.
The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) is informing affected students of changes to their SEVIS status and connecting them with legal resources.
“The federal government has begun taking action to terminate visa eligibility for international students across the country for alleged incidents including minor traffic violations,” Olinto wrote.
At a March 27 press conference, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist that tears up our university campuses. And if we’ve given you a visa and then you decide to do that, we’re going to take it away. … Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visa.”
In March, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked the visas or green cards of multiple Columbia affiliates, including Mahmoud Khalil, a student at the School of International and Public Affairs; Ranjani Srinivasan, a PhD candidate; Yunseo Chung, an undergraduate; and Rumeysa Ozturk, a Teachers College alumna and current Tufts University doctoral student.
ICE agents detained Khalil on March 8 at his University-owned residence. He was later transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana. A federal judge ordered on April 1 that Khalil’s case remain in New Jersey. Ozturk, also detained, will have her legal case heard in Vermont.
Chung filed a lawsuit on March 24 against former President Donald Trump and federal officials, alleging violations of her constitutional rights. On March 25, a judge halted her deportation. She is currently not in ICE custody.
Of the four Columbia affiliates targeted last month, only Srinivasan has left the US. According to a DHS press release, she used the CBP Home app to “self-deport” on March 14 after her visa was cancelled on March 5. In a statement issued March 22, she said she was “forced to flee the US due to ICE threats and Columbia’s complicity.”
DHS claimed Srinivasan was involved in activities supporting Hamas, which it designates as a terrorist group, but did not release supporting evidence. In an interview with This American Life, Srinivasan described being on a Zoom call with her ISSO advisor when ICE agents arrived at her residence. The advisor instructed her not to open the door.
Two days later, she received an email from Columbia stating her enrollment had been revoked following the visa termination.
On April 2, four Jewish pro-Palestinian students chained themselves to a gate near St. Paul’s Chapel in support of Khalil. Columbia’s chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace demanded the University reveal which trustees had allegedly coordinated with federal authorities. The group cited a report in The Forward stating that a former leader of Betar had discussed Khalil with members of Congress and that some Columbia trustees had reported him to officials.
A University spokesperson told Columbia Spectator on April 2, “No member of Columbia leadership has ever requested the presence of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on or near campus to target students.” Acting University President Claire Shipman repeated the statement in a video posted to the University’s website.
“The University deeply values our international scholars and students,” Olinto wrote. “Our international community is essential to driving excellence in scholarship and research at Columbia and we are committed to supporting all members of our community.”
The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) is informing affected students of changes to their SEVIS status and connecting them with legal resources.
“The federal government has begun taking action to terminate visa eligibility for international students across the country for alleged incidents including minor traffic violations,” Olinto wrote.
At a March 27 press conference, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist that tears up our university campuses. And if we’ve given you a visa and then you decide to do that, we’re going to take it away. … Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visa.”
In March, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked the visas or green cards of multiple Columbia affiliates, including Mahmoud Khalil, a student at the School of International and Public Affairs; Ranjani Srinivasan, a PhD candidate; Yunseo Chung, an undergraduate; and Rumeysa Ozturk, a Teachers College alumna and current Tufts University doctoral student.
ICE agents detained Khalil on March 8 at his University-owned residence. He was later transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana. A federal judge ordered on April 1 that Khalil’s case remain in New Jersey. Ozturk, also detained, will have her legal case heard in Vermont.
Chung filed a lawsuit on March 24 against former President Donald Trump and federal officials, alleging violations of her constitutional rights. On March 25, a judge halted her deportation. She is currently not in ICE custody.
Of the four Columbia affiliates targeted last month, only Srinivasan has left the US. According to a DHS press release, she used the CBP Home app to “self-deport” on March 14 after her visa was cancelled on March 5. In a statement issued March 22, she said she was “forced to flee the US due to ICE threats and Columbia’s complicity.”
DHS claimed Srinivasan was involved in activities supporting Hamas, which it designates as a terrorist group, but did not release supporting evidence. In an interview with This American Life, Srinivasan described being on a Zoom call with her ISSO advisor when ICE agents arrived at her residence. The advisor instructed her not to open the door.
Two days later, she received an email from Columbia stating her enrollment had been revoked following the visa termination.
On April 2, four Jewish pro-Palestinian students chained themselves to a gate near St. Paul’s Chapel in support of Khalil. Columbia’s chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace demanded the University reveal which trustees had allegedly coordinated with federal authorities. The group cited a report in The Forward stating that a former leader of Betar had discussed Khalil with members of Congress and that some Columbia trustees had reported him to officials.
A University spokesperson told Columbia Spectator on April 2, “No member of Columbia leadership has ever requested the presence of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on or near campus to target students.” Acting University President Claire Shipman repeated the statement in a video posted to the University’s website.
“The University deeply values our international scholars and students,” Olinto wrote. “Our international community is essential to driving excellence in scholarship and research at Columbia and we are committed to supporting all members of our community.”
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