Navigating Uncertainty: Recent Revocations of Student Visas at UC San Diego and Beyond

Recent events have brought significant uncertainty and concern to international students in the University of California system, particularly at UC San Diego. The federal government has been quietly revoking visas of international students across the country, including at schools in the University of California and the California State University systems. These actions, coupled with evolving federal policies, are impacting various aspects of being an international student. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the situation, its implications, and available resources.

Background: Visa Revocations and Terminations

As shared in messages from the International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO) on April 14, 2025, ISEO is aware of the federal government’s recent visa revocations and/or termination of F-1/J-1 student SEVIS records that have taken place within the UC system, and here at UC San Diego, without prior notice. The UC Office of the President confirmed in a Friday statement that the revocations impacted students at several UC campuses. “The University of California is aware that international students across several of our campuses have been impacted by recent SEVIS terminations,” the statement said. Five students at UC San Diego also had their visas terminated, according to reporting from the UCSD Guardian, the campus’s student newspaper. The University identified the first visa termination in early April, and the number of students affected has been increasing since.

These actions are initiated by the federal government without prior notice to either the university or impacted students. In addition, there is little information provided by DHS on the reason for termination.

Understanding SEVIS Terminations and Visa Revocations

It’s crucial to differentiate between a SEVIS termination and a visa revocation. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a government database used to track international students and scholars holding F-1 or J-1 visas. Each student holds a unique SEVIS record.

SEVIS Terminations are required by the federal government to be reported, typically, by a university’s Designated School Officials (DSOs) - at UC San Diego, this is the International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO) - in response to a warranted change in or violation of a student’s status. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently begun terminating SEVIS records directly without notifying students or universities. A SEVIS Record termination does not automatically result in a Visa Revocation.

A visa revocation is the cancellation of the visa stamp in a visa holder’s passport by a Department of State or a Department of Homeland Security official. Department of State holds the authority to revoke previously issued visas. The university is not routinely informed of visa revocations. An expired F-1 or J-1 visa is not the same as a revoked visa.

Potential Reasons and Contributing Factors

Several factors may be contributing to the increased scrutiny and revocations of student visas. These include:

Political Activism: Trump issued a January executive order that threatened to revoke the visas of students who participated in pro-Palestine protests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially said the revocations were connected to protests of the Israeli military’s high Palestinian casualty count resulting from its response to the 2023 Hamas terrorist attack. He accused student protestors of supporting a terrorist organization but has not offered any proof.
Social Media Monitoring: Last week, the federal government announced it would start monitoring immigrants’ social media posts to look for signs of what they determine to be antisemitism. Under the new guidance, all F, M, and J visa applicants will be required to adjust the privacy settings on their social media accounts to “public” as part of a comprehensive vetting process. Department of State now requires consular officers to review each applicant’s social media presence before approving a visa. Applicants must ensure that all social media accounts listed on the DS-160 form are set to public.
Broader Policy Shifts: With numerous, quickly evolving federal policy shifts underway, the University of California is also working diligently to monitor these developments and seek clarity on a range of issues. On December 16, 2025, the federal administration issued a presidential proclamation “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the Security of the United States.” This proclamation expands on the previously issued (June 4, 2025) proclamation discussing visa limitations and travel restrictions for specific countries. Individuals from countries not listed in the proclamation are not affected by the proclamation.

Impact on Students and Campuses

The revocations and increased scrutiny have created a climate of fear and uncertainty among international students. After hundreds of international students lost their status this spring, then regained it following lawsuits, the uncertainty of it happening again has created fear. International college students are learning that speech isn’t as free as they thought in the United States.

The impact is multifaceted:

Chilling Effect on Free Speech: At UC Berkeley, a sophomore told CalMatters that she was involved in campus activism for about a year and a half until about March, when she saw international students losing their visas and heard rumors of immigration enforcement agents on campus. Her thoughts on protesting have changed drastically. “Everything I say can be used against me,” she said. The student said some professors have told international students to stop posting as often.
Self-Censorship: An international graduate student at another UC - he does not want to name his campus in fear of not passing his dissertation - is working on a research project about the interplay of international politics and media. His research paper includes a section on human rights violations and genocide. Initially, he included coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. “It does not have that big an impact on the entire project…, but personally I’m just disappointed that I could not talk about it in my final events,” the graduate student said.
Reconsidering Future Plans: This environment has some graduate students considering other options. “I’m seeing a lot of people really think it through,” the student said. “People are considering the UK or Canada.”
Increased Anonymity: Adalia Luo, editor-in-chief of UC San Diego’s student news organization The Guardian, and Chris Ponce, editor-in-chief of The California Aggie at UC Davis, said their opinion departments have been making changes. Luo said her organization has removed names from articles by international student writers upon request. The junior at UC Berkeley said she writes for a campus political magazine. “I didn’t want my name affiliated with criticisms of the administration, as that would either risk me getting deported or a future visa being rejected.
Operational Challenges for Universities: At each UC school, public notification about the number of students affected has varied. The federal government, “has not explained the reasons behind these terminations,” according to a statement from UCSD.

University Responses and Resources

Universities are taking steps to support affected students and monitor the situation.

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University Statements: “The UCLA administration should speak up and (provide) support directly to the international students and basically say that the international students are not alone - provide support and legal assistance,” he said. Hannah Appel, a spokesperson for Faculty for Justice in Palestine at UCLA, condemned the revocations in a written statement and called on UCLA administrators and California Gov. “We condemn the unlawful revocations of student visas at colleges and universities in California and across the country,” said Appel, an associate professor of anthropology and global studies, in the statement. “UC students across the system, regardless of their political alignments, are now the targets of the federal government’s violations of the constitutional right to freedom of speech and due process,” the letter said.
ISEO Support: The International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO) is committed to being your resource for accurate and timely information. We will monitor developments in immigration policies and prepare for any potential impacts on our international community. ISEO’s Student Services advising team advises international F-1 and J-1 students who have accepted an offer of admission to UC San Diego, or are currently in F-1/J-1 status and are enrolled in courses at UC San Diego or are alumni on OPT/STEM OPT or Academic Training.
Webinars and Town Halls: On October 23, 2025, the International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO) and the Divison of Graduate Education & Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) held a webinar for current international graduate and professional students. We recognize that this is a challenging and concerning time for international students. We are aware of the numerous US federal government policy shifts and recent actions that are adversely impacting various aspects of being an international student. The purpose of the webinar was to express our support and share the latest updates as we know them. On June 26 and July 16, 2025, the International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO) and the Divison of Graduate Education & Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) held town halls for new international graduate students to share updates regarding visas, residency and employment eligibility, and enrollment options. As promised during those sessions, an abbreviated version of the slides is available here. On June 26 and July 29, 2025, the International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO) and Enrollment Management held town halls for new international undergraduate students regarding visas and enrollment options.
Mental Health Support: Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): For mental health support, including therapy, crisis intervention, and psychiatric services.

Navigating the Current Landscape: Advice and Precautions

Given the current climate, international students should take the following precautions:

Be Mindful of Social Media: This has student activists reconsider what they post, share or like. The student who spoke to KPBS said her social media timeline is full of videos of international students being detained followed by videos of Palestinian children dying. She called it a constant reminder of why activists are speaking out but also of the consequences they’re facing. “Should I be thinking about what I’m liking,” said the international student. “What is actually antisemitic? Is this picture or post about someone losing their child antisemitic just because the person is Palestinian?”Review your entire online presence for accuracy and consistency.
Carry Immigration Documents: We recommend carrying your original immigration documents with you at all times, especially when traveling within San Diego County, throughout Southern California, or across state lines. Due to the proximity of San Diego to international borders, we recommend that you carry your passport and Form I-20 or J-1 Form DS-2019 with you when traveling on major freeways.
Be Prepared for CBP Interactions: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may establish checkpoints to stop and question travelers about their citizenship or immigration status. CBP can ask to search all your electronic devices. Be mindful of what is on your devices and ensure it complies with all visa and immigration regulations.
Seek Legal Advice: If you have ever been arrested for any reason-including for driving under the influence (DUI)-it is especially important to seek legal advice.
Stay Informed: We understand your concerns about making travel plans given the ongoing uncertainty. As new administrative actions continue to unfold, ISEO strongly urges students, scholars, and their families to carefully evaluate international travel plans at this time. immigration policy remains unpredictable and subject to rapid changes, so we encourage our community to stay informed and consult an ISEO advisor for any specific case questions or concerns.

Addressing Specific Concerns

Travel: Students are strongly encouraged to review the estimated visa appointment wait times posted by the Department of State, prior to making any international travel plans for visa application or renewal. While visa appointments have resumed, appointments may fill quickly, and consulates may need to limit available appointments in order to comply with enhanced vetting procedures.
Visa Renewal: Travel is not necessary for the sole purpose of renewing an F-1 or J-1 visa. Use your own discretion in assessing your choice to apply for a visa renew abroad as this process may take some time. Please contact an ISEO International Student Advisor immediately to let them know that your visa has been denied.
Scams: ISEO has recently observed an increase in immigration status scams. Learn about scams currently targeting international students and how to recognize them by visiting iSafety.ucsd.edu. Scammers often pose as government or immigration officials. Have you received a call threatening your immigration status? This is a scam! ISEO wil…

Policy Changes and Updates

Several recent policy changes may affect international students:

Presidential Proclamations: On December 16, 2025, the federal administration issued a presidential proclamation “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the Security of the United States.” This proclamation expands on the previously issued (June 4, 2025) proclamation discussing visa limitations and travel restrictions for specific countries. Individuals from countries not listed in the proclamation are not affected by the proclamation.
USCIS Policy Memorandum: Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Policy Memorandum announcing that it will “hold and review” benefit applications from individuals who were born in or hold citizenship in any of the 39 countries affected by the current restrictions issued via Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10998. Students and scholars affected by this policy memo should timely apply for their USCIS benefits as soon as they are eligible to, in anticipation of processing delays.
EAD Automatic Extensions: Starting October 30, 2025, automatic extension of work authorization will no longer be granted to certain impacted applicants who timely filed their extension request. This change does not impact F-1 students applying for the STEM OPT extension. To avoid any gap in your ability to work, we strongly encourage you to apply for your EAD renewal as soon as possible.

Staying Updated

ISEO Resources: The International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO) is committed to being your resource for accurate and timely information.
University Communications: The University of California recognizes that many in our community have questions related to this proposed rule.
Elected Officials: One way to engage is by reaching out to elected officials to share your perspective on issues that matter to you.

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