Over 4,000 Foreign Students Face Deportation as Trump-Era Immigration Crackdown Rattles US Campuses

Washington, D.C., April 27, 2025 — In a wave of immigration enforcement linked to Trump-era policies, over 4,000 international students, many from India, are facing deportation from the United States. The development has triggered widespread anxiety across U.S. campuses, threatening both the academic futures of students and the global reputation of American universities.

Deportations Linked to Minor Offenses and Visa Issues

According to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has removed more than 4,700 students from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) in recent weeks. Nearly half of these students are Indian nationals. Many of the affected individuals were engaged in Optional Practical Training (OPT), a program allowing international graduates to work temporarily in the U.S.

Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, emphasized a tough stance:
“If you are in our country illegally, we will arrest, we will deport you, and you will never return.”

Reports also suggest that some students were targeted due to minor infractions such as traffic violations, and in several instances, charges had already been dismissed.

Universities and Legal Experts Mobilize Support

As fears escalate, universities like George Mason University and the University of California system are taking steps to support affected students. Legal aid efforts have been ramped up, and over 200 students have already secured court orders preventing their immediate deportation.

Rachel Zaentz, spokesperson for the University of California Office of the President, confirmed efforts to allow impacted students to continue their education.

Additionally, universities have issued strong advisories urging international students to remain enrolled, avoid legal infractions, and refrain from international travel during upcoming breaks.

Indian Students Disproportionately Impacted

Indian students, who constitute a major portion of the U.S.’s international academic community, are among the most affected. One Indian undergraduate in Georgia shared with Reuters that despite having a DUI charge dismissed, his visa was revoked, forcing him into legal limbo.

Meanwhile, other students like Momadou Taal, a protest leader at Cornell University, have already chosen self-deportation after being instructed to report to immigration authorities. Taal plans to complete his degree remotely.

A Threat to America’s Academic Reputation

Leading academic voices have raised alarms about the potential long-term impact on American higher education. MIT President Sally Kornbluth warned that U.S. institutions “would be gravely diminished without the students and scholars who join us from other nations.”

The situation risks not only individual futures but the broader identity of U.S. universities as global centers of innovation, diversity, and excellence.

As summer break approaches, the uncertainty surrounding international students underscores a critical moment for U.S. higher education and immigration policy.