Pause on Visa Revocations: A Win for the Student Movement!

The pause on international student visa revocations and the reinstatement of many is a win for the student movement, and a time for us to keep on organizing!

On April 4th, the first international student visas were revoked, and students were told to leave the country. Almost 2,000 were revoked in total, in a blatant attack on students and immigrants by the Trump administration.

For the time being visa revocations have ended, and visas have been reinstated. Trump’s attacks on students ended because of strong actions taken by the student movement, calling for the release of students detained by ICE and for an end to attacks on international students.

However, the Trump administration is reworking the admissions process for international students F-1 visa holders as a whole, and so attacks may return. Now is the time to protest and demand strong protections for immigrants and international students. Many universities have not been transparent about if visas were revoked, and are openly collaborating with ICE.

The Trump administration has shown it can be defeated, and university administrators have shown they’d rather keep their heads down. Students for a Democratic Society will continue organizing for an end to deportations, and protections for immigrants and international students. Students are the ones fighting back - and winning.