coe-staff: University Communications Fact Sheet - Student Visas

Wed Apr 9 12:33:19 PDT 2025

Dear COE Community,

Below is a fact sheet prepared by University Communications regarding UO International Student Visa Revocations. I share this with our community to increase knowledge and awareness of this evolving situation.

Best,
Laura Lee

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Fact Sheet - Student Visa
Version April 9, 2025

In the last few weeks, the US Department of Homeland Security has revoked the visa status of four international students at the UO who appeared in a criminal records check. The university was not informed in advance and has not been given details about the nature of the criminal charges.

The university is required to inform students when their F-1 visa status is terminated and that they are given 15 days to leave the country unless they have another legal pathway for remaining.

We are working closely with the students directly impacted to gather all relevant information, connect them with legal advice, provide academic and personal life advising, and otherwise help them navigate next steps.  We are committed to handling this matter with care and respect for the student's privacy.

The university was not informed in advance and has not been given details about the nature of the criminal charges. We recognize that this situation may raise questions and concerns in our community.

The University of Oregon did not bring the individual to the attention of federal authorities and was not involved in any decisions with regard to their status.

Points

  *   On Friday, March 28 the University of Oregon proactively discovered that the Department of Homeland Security had terminated an international student's nonimmigrant visa record due to unspecified criminal charges. The UO was not notified of this termination.

  *   The university is searching the federal international student database daily to check if any other student's visa status has changed without notice.

  *   The university is required to inform the student of the termination of their F-1 visa status

  *   The university is obligated to notify the student that they are given 15 days to leave the country unless they have another legal pathway for remaining in the US.

  *   We do not know of the reason for the student's visa to be revoked, did not bring the individual to the attention of federal authorities, and were not involved in any decisions with regard to their status.

  *   We are obligated to follow federal rules as to who can come to and remain in the country and must follow the direction of federal authorities.

  *   The university is reaching out to the students to connect them to advising and support, and informing them of options for legal assistance.

Additional background

  *   How many student are attending UO on F-1 visas?
We currently have a total of 796 active F-1 SEVIS records. Not all of those are actively enrolled this term, but they can still be impacted by a visa termination.

  *   How often have visas been revoked in the past?
Revocation like the ones students are experiencing are extremely rare. Our vice provost of global engagement has not seen this happen in his 20 years in his field.

  *   Is checking visa status a requirement for UO?
It's not a requirement, but a matter of professional commitment in International Student and Scholar Services.

  *   Are there primary countries that our international students come from?
Students come from more than 90 countries, there isn't one that is particularly more dominant than the others. It's easier to think about it in terms of regions. We had 132 from East Asia. Europe was the second most common (52).

  *   What do they study?
These students are enrolled in a wide variety of degree programs.

  *   How much is their tuition?
International tuition is the same as non-resident tuition, but students might incur greater costs for visits home during the academic year.

  *   Is there a brief history of international student enrollment at UO?
Yes, on institutional research website one can see the enrollment trends. (https://ir.uoregon.edu/student-demographics/student-profile)

  *   How has enrollment changed over the years?
It peaked in 2015-16 at 3,400. Travel bans and the pandemic took a toll on international enrollment.

  *   Why do they come to UO?
There is no one particular reason that draws international students to UO. Some come for the top programs, some like the college town feel, others are looking for a school on the West Coast or they have friends or relatives nearby.

National Media
3/31 NBC - Student protests over visa loss - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/university-minnesota-student-lost-visa-drunk-driving-not-protests-ice-rcna198978
3/31 BBC - Students who have left US after losing visas https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c934y9kv07eo3/27 NBC - Students taken off the street by ICE https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-administration-takes-aim-immigrant-students-rcna198346
3/27 CBS - students are invited to the country to study and can be told to leave -https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marco-rubio-student-visas-revoked-ice-tufts-columbia-university/
3/27 The Hill - students targeted for Pro-Palestinian protests https://thehill.com/homenews/education/5217595-international-students-faculty-trump-immigration-crackdown-ice-tufts-student-detained-columbia-alabama/

Laura Lee McIntyre | Dean & Castle-McIntosh-Knight Professor
University of Oregon | College of Education
230 Hedco Education Building | Eugene, OR 97403-1215
llmcinty at uoregon.edu<mailto:email at uoregon.edu> |  https://education.uoregon.edu<https://education.uoregon.edu/>
[cid:image001.png at 01DBA94B.91FFE6B0]<https://www.uoregon.edu/>

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