University of Iowa students have visas revoked by Trump administration

The University of Iowa confirmed that students have had their visa unexpectedly revoked as part of the Trump administration’s nationwide crackdown on international students. University officials say they “were not aware of any violation.” The graduate student union is calling it “blatant authoritarianism designed to terrorize international students.”

At least two University of Iowa students have had their student visas revoked by the  Trump administration as part of its broader purge of visas for international students. 

In an email to Iowa Starting Line, a University spokesperson confirmed that it was “aware of students who have been impacted.”

In an email sent to international students on April 10, Russell Ganim, associate provost and dean of International Programs, disclosed that the university learned on April 4 that the U.S. Department of State had canceled a graduate student’s visa without prior notification to the school.

“The university did not initiate the action and was not aware of any violation,” Ganim wrote. University officials declined to provide specific details about affected students, citing privacy protections under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The Campaign to Organize Graduate Students (COGS), the university’s graduate student union, claimed at least two UI students have been affected and has condemned the actions as “blatant authoritarianism designed to terrorize international students.”

“The difficulty here is the University’s in the dark. We can walk out of our classrooms. We can march on the president of the University. But at the end of the day, we are going to need to march on larger offices,” COGS President Cary Stough said.

The situation at Iowa is part of a broader crackdown. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated last month that more than 300 student visas have been revoked nationwide under the Trump administration, with “more coming every day.” An Inside Higher Ed tracker has identified more than 140 colleges and universities where 700-plus international students and recent graduates have had their legal status changed or stripped by the State Department.

What began as targeting students involved in pro-Palestinian protests has reportedly expanded. According to immigration attorneys, some students are seeing their visas revoked for infractions as minor as traffic violations.

University officials have limited options to assist affected students beyond offering guidance and referrals to legal resources.

“International students and scholars are valued members of the Iowa community,” Ganim wrote, while noting the university “is not authorized to provide legal advice.” 

The program recommended seeking counsel from the Iowa State Bar Association, the Law Clinic at the College of Law, and Student Legal Services.

The Campaign to Organize Graduate Students  has pledged to “do whatever we can, putting our bodies on the line” to protect affected students and has urged other organizations to take similar stances.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement runs a program that keeps track of information on non-immigrants coming to the United States to study. Called the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS), the graduate student union emphasized that being flagged in the system does not necessarily mean immediate deportation is required, and encouraged students to consult with UI’s Immigration Law Clinic before making decisions.

With international students comprising approximately one-third of the graduate student population at UI, Stough urged stronger action: “I do think the university needs to do more in making a statement to their very vital students.”