At Saluja Law, we represent immigrants, students, scholars, and professionals who came to the United States in pursuit of education, opportunity, and advancement. But in 2025, many of those individuals are now being forced to leave—not because they've done anything wrong, but because they are the targets of sweeping visa revocations under a resurgent Trump administration policy.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people from around the world are granted student visas—F-1 for academic studies, M-1 for vocational training, and J-1 for cultural and academic exchange. These visas represent a bridge to world-class education and research. But under newly aggressive federal enforcement, they are also becoming one-way tickets home for hundreds of students, researchers, and faculty.
The Process: How Student Visas Work—And How They're Being Revoked
To study in the U.S., international students must attend a school certified by the Department of Homeland Security through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). These students are entered into SEVIS, a government database that tracks their compliance with visa conditions. But what was once a system designed to ensure transparency has become a tool of surveillance and rapid enforcement.
Revocation can now be initiated without criminal charges, without school notification, and sometimes, without the student even knowing their visa has been canceled. Federal agents have detained students on the street without prior notice, citing vague or undisclosed “derogatory information” from other government agencies.
In some cases, the rationale for revocation centers on political speech—especially public support for Palestinian rights. Others were flagged for mere encounters with law enforcement, such as traffic citations or campus disciplinary matters, that traditionally would not have jeopardized their status.
No Charges, No Convictions—Still Deported
According to lawsuits filed on behalf of affected students, the new policy amounts to punishment without process. Students have had their visas canceled after peaceful protests, online advocacy, or minor incidents that didn't lead to criminal charges. Some schools found out about the revocations only after noticing changes in the SEVIS system—after the student was already gone.
This is a seismic shift in immigration enforcement. Historically, designated school officers had discretion to report or act on compliance issues. Now, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is taking unilateral action, with visa revocation frequently preceding detention or deportation orders.
Repercussions: Arrest, Detention, and Five-Year Bans
Once a visa is revoked, the consequences are swift and severe. ICE has issued emails telling students to “self-deport” within seven days or face arrest. Legal permanent residents have also come under fire, with green cards being revoked on national security grounds without formal charges or hearings.
Worse still, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in 2024 that visa revocations are largely unreviewable by courts. This means that hundreds of affected students now face legal exile without any meaningful opportunity to appeal.
According to State Department guidelines, a student who is found to have violated the terms of their visa cannot reapply for a new one for at least five years—a punishment that can derail entire academic and professional careers.
What It Means for U.S. Education—and Our Clients
This is not just an immigration issue—it's an academic one, an economic one, and a constitutional one. U.S. institutions of higher learning, already facing declining international enrollment due to political uncertainty, now risk losing brilliant minds and future leaders to arbitrary government actions.
At Saluja Law, we've seen firsthand how devastating these policies are. Families are torn apart. Research is interrupted. Students who have done nothing wrong find themselves handcuffed on the street, deported without warning, or forced to abandon their dreams.
We are actively representing clients affected by these policies and advocating for legal accountability. If you or someone you know is facing visa revocation, detention, or removal, please contact us immediately.
Saluja Law Offices, PLLC
Defending Rights. Empowering Dreams.
www.salujalaw.com | Charleston, WV | [email protected]