A wave of student visa revocations at universities across the U.S. has left hundreds of international students in limbo, with Texas institutions such as the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), University of North Texas (UNT), Texas A&M, and UT Austin among those affected. School officials are scrambling to support affected students while seeking clarity from federal authorities regarding the reasoning behind these abrupt visa terminations.

Although the exact cause of the revocations remains unclear, recent comments from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggest an intensified federal focus on student visa holders involved in actions perceived to conflict with national interests. Rubio recently stated his intent to revoke visas of individuals engaged in criminal activity or actions that challenge U.S. security—including public support for groups designated as terrorist organizations.

By the numbers:

• UT Dallas: 19 students had visas revoked

• University of North Texas: 27 students affected

• Texas A&M: 15 students impacted

• UT San Antonio: Four students (two current, two former) had visas revoked

This crackdown follows increased scrutiny of applicants’ social media profiles and political activity, according to immigration experts. Officials have linked some of the revocations to potential involvement in pro-Palestinian protests that occurred on U.S. campuses, although specific cases have not been officially confirmed.

At UT Dallas, a protest in May 2024 in support of Palestine gained national attention when students established an encampment demanding the university divest from corporations tied to Israel's military actions in Gaza. Police dismantled the encampment and arrested at least 21 protesters, nine of whom were later disciplined by the university. While UTD officials have not confirmed whether any of the 19 students whose visas were revoked participated in the demonstration, the timing and political context have raised eyebrows. The American Council on Education has expressed concern over the opaque criteria being used to justify these visa terminations.

“We've heard from the Secretary of State that they are specifically looking at students who either publicly participated in campus protests or spoke out in support of organizations such as Hamas, which is a known terrorist organization,” said Sarah Spreitzer, the council’s director. “What we’ve heard from some students is they’re unsure what the criminal activity might be — it could even be minor, like a speeding ticket.” Spreitzer added that the council is pushing for greater transparency from federal agencies to ensure students’ rights are protected and that institutions are not left in the dark when their international students are targeted.

So far, Southern Methodist University (SMU), Texas Christian University (TCU), and UT Arlington have not commented on whether their students have been affected, though outreach is ongoing. This unprecedented move to revoke visas retroactively based on unclear or undisclosed criteria is raising alarm among civil liberties advocates, who argue that participation in lawful protest or free speech activities should not be grounds for immigration penalties—particularly for students not formally charged with any crime. With the 2025 academic year underway and tensions around political expression and foreign policy rising, this issue is likely to spark further debate over the intersection of immigration enforcement, campus activism, and national security. Many are now calling for a clearer policy framework and due process protections for international students facing visa revocation.