This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Thirteen current and former UB international students’ visas were suddenly and unexpectedly revoked by the federal government this week, university officials confirmed Tuesday.
Four current students and nine recent graduates studying on F-1 visas had their immigration status terminated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement “in the past week,” the university said in a statement.
The reasons for the visa revocations remained unknown Tuesday evening, and an ICE spokesperson could not be reached for comment in time for publication. A staffer at the bureau’s Buffalo field office said he was unaware of the visa revocations.
The visa cancellations come as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has cracked down on noncitizens’ civil rights in the country. Recent high-profile arrests have targeted international students involved in pro-Palestinian advocacy at Columbia University, Tufts University and elsewhere, and The New York Times reports nearly 300 students have seen their visas suddenly revoked in recent days.
“While it is unclear at this time the exact reason for each visa revocation and status termination, the actions appear to be consistent with a recent change in enforcement approach by the U.S. State Department, which recently stated that it will have zero tolerance for noncitizens, including student visa holders, who violate U.S. laws, indicating that visa holders who break the law may face status termination,” the university wrote in a statement Tuesday afternoon.
UB’s International Student Services office is providing support to the affected individuals, but has advised them to leave the country and consider retaining private counsel, the university said.
The university is not releasing names and details, citing federal privacy laws.
5,665 international students attended UB last year, making up around 20 percent of the student body.
Mylien Lai is the senior news editor and can be reached at mylien.lai@ubspectrum.com.
Sol Hauser is the former senior news editor and can be reached at sol.hauser@ubspectrum.com
Mylien Lai is the senior news editor at The Spectrum. Outside of getting lost in Buffalo, she enjoys practicing the piano and being a bean plant mom. She can be found at @my_my_my_myliennnn on Instagram.
