Four international students at Case Western Reserve University had their F-1 visa status terminated by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) over the past two weeks, according to an April 14 email from President Eric Kaler. This update comes amid local and national reports of student visas being terminated without prior notification, which immediately makes it illegal for those impacted to remain studying or working in the United States. The revocations follow immigration enforcement orders introduced by the Trump administration in January.
The university is actively monitoring international students’ visa statuses. CWRU’s Visa & Immigration Services & Advisors (VISA) Office will continue to update its website with the latest travel policies and procedures to help students navigate the evolving situation.
In his email, Kaler highlighted how the university is supporting international students.
“In each of these visa termination cases, a team from across the university—including the VISA Office, the Division of Student Affairs, and academic leadership within relevant schools, among others—is working with the affected student to provide support and, where possible, legal options,” he wrote. When contacted directly by The Observer, the university declined to provide additional comments about the details of this support.
CWRU is among several universities that have reported student F-1 visa terminations in recent weeks. According to a tracker compiled by Inside Higher Ed, over 1,300 students at 210 colleges across the country have reported visa terminations, as of April 16. This list includes several of Ohio’s public universities, such as The Ohio State University, Kent State University, the University of Cincinnati, Cleveland State University and the University of Akron.
International students make up a sizable portion of CWRU’s student population, with 749 undergraduates, 1,291 graduates and 44 Cleveland Institute of Music students. This amounts to 2,084 students total—roughly 17% of the university’s population, as of the fall 2024 semester.
“I know how disconcerting this might be for many in our community,” Kaler wrote on April 14. “International students, faculty, staff and postdocs are and will continue to be an essential part of the Case Western Reserve community.”
Alexandra Magearu, a lecturer in the Department of English, wrote a letter to the department underscoring the importance of supporting students during this time.
“In this climate of fear, it is our responsibility as faculty members to come together and support our international student community,” she wrote. “We should demonstrate to our international students that we value their contributions to our campus community and that they are an integral part of our university.”
A non-international student, who wished to remain anonymous, voiced their concerns about the uncertainty international students are facing.
“These students had built lives here,” they said. “Sudden policy shifts under the new government have created uncertainty that affects not just their education, but their sense of stability and belonging.”
An international student, who asked to remain anonymous, said it would be helpful if the university provided clearer guidance on how to proceed in the event of visa-related issues.
“So, we’re kind of worried about this,” they said. “It makes us kind of scared to go back to our own country during the summer vacations. Makes us prefer to stay here whenever we got few days off, because we are worried that our visa is gonna be called back.”
Another international student mentioned how this uncertainty surrounding visa status could complicate their transfer plans.
“If I need to go to another university next semester, I need to update my visa, and I’m not sure if the policy will influence [whether I] can get a visa,” they said. “That’s what’s [making] me feel really anxious because I know if I go back to China, it’s hard for me to get back here.”
Ananya Dasgupta, assistant professor of history, highlighted the personal connection she feels with the termination of students’ F-1 visas.
“In the 19 years that I have spent studying and working at research universities in this country, I have never seen international students rendered so vulnerable,” she said. “Thus President Kaler’s message on Monday was welcome because at least we received some verified information on how many students have been affected, putting to rest rumors that had been circulating. It is important that CWRU keeps issuing regular updates on this volatile situation to reduce the fear level.”
In a March 25 email, the VISA Office advised international students against international travel and encouraged them to always carry documentation verifying their valid immigration status.
According to a 2021 university policy, all faculty must register university-related international travel with the Office of International Affairs. “Doing so helps the university assist in the event of an emergency during travel and provide guidance on complying with applicable laws, and allows faculty to register for the university’s medical emergency insurance policy, among other benefits,” the April 14 email explained.
During April 12’s Undergraduate Student Government Town Hall with Vice President for Student Affairs Travis Apgar, Apgar reiterated the VISA Office’s advice in response to a question about whether the university will provide financial assistance to international students who cannot go back to their home country over summer break.
One international student attended because they wanted to learn more about summer housing options since they are unable to go home.
“It made me angry that [Kaler] said [on-campus summer housing] was a ‘discounted’ rate, because it’s not discounted. It’s pretty expensive, and it’s more expensive than renting out, but that’s more of a hassle because I’m an international student,” they said.
Another student echoed a similar sentiment.
“We were told to apply for a $500 emergency fund. That’s less than one-fifth of the cost of summer housing,” they said. “The administration is calling this support—what it really is, is performative. It feels like a slap in the face to students who are already struggling, many of whom can’t return home for political or financial reasons.”
This student criticized the university’s funding priorities.
“What makes this even more painful is seeing the university find funding for spring entertainment acts and other luxuries while some of its students face housing and food insecurity. I want to have safe housing, not a spring comedian or CWRU merch,” they said.
On March 25, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented a policy to revoke F-1 student visas based on international students’ social media activity. According to an article published by The New York Times, they particularly targeted content posted by students who were perceived as pro-Palestinian. This initiative, part of the “Catch and Revoke” program, utilizes artificial intelligence to monitor online posts and identify individuals allegedly supporting Hamas or engaging in antisemitic behavior.
While student visas grant international students the right to free speech when in the U.S., they do not guarantee protection of their immigration status. Under the executive order, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) was directed to scrutinize visa programs more closely. As the order reads, “It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.”
The DOS said in a statement to The Observer that they review information after a visa is issued to determine if someone has grounds for revocation and currently revoke visas every day. They said they will continue to do so.
“This can include everything from arrests, criminal convictions, and engaging in conduct that is inconsistent with the visa classification, to an overstay,” the department said about why some visas get terminated. “The Department of State will continue to work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to enforce zero tolerance for aliens in the United States who violate U.S. laws, threaten public safety, or in other situations where warranted.”
The DOS did not respond to requests for comment regarding the specific grounds on which the CWRU students’ visas were terminated.
Additional reporting contributed by Sports Editor Darcy Chew and News Editor Vani Subramony.