The recent enforcement actions by the United States government against international students have had a significant and disproportionate effect on Indian nationals, who represent the largest proportion of visa cancellations. A report from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) indicates that Indian students constitute 50% of the 327 visa revocations recorded by the organization. The AILA report, titled “The Scope of Immigration Enforcement Actions Against International Students,” reveals that students from China account for 14% of the cases, with additional representation from South Korea, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Nevertheless, Indian students are by far the most severely impacted. Those enrolled in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which permits F-1 students to work in the U.S. for up to a year post-graduation, have been particularly affected, with half of the revoked visas belonging to students in this category. The states of Texas, California, New York, Michigan, and Arizona have reported the highest numbers of students facing these challenges.
In recent months, the U.S. State Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have heightened their scrutiny of foreign students, not only assessing visa statuses but also investigating potential involvement in activism. There are concerns that artificial intelligence tools may be employed to identify students, which raises the risk of misidentifying individuals, including those without any criminal history or connections to campus protests. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India has acknowledged this situation, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stating, “We are aware that several Indian students have received communication from the U.S. government regarding their F-1 visa status. We are looking into the matter. Our Embassy and consulates are in touch with the students.”
