Visas revoked for at least 9 international students in Colorado

At least nine international students studying at universities in Colorado have had their visas revoked by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, school officials said.

Five international students at Colorado State University had their visas revoked and their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System paperwork terminated, Tiana Kennedy, a spokesperson for the university said Tuesday. Four students at the University of Colorado, at the Boulder and Colorado Springs campuses, also had their F-1 student visas revoked, the university said in a statement. 

In a March 29 letter addressed to the school’s international students, CSU urged affected students to immediately contact the embassy of their home country and the CSU Office of International Programs. 

“We are working with our state and federal elected officials to ensure that our students are informed on their options,” the letter said. “Our international community is an integral part of Colorado State University, enriching our campus in countless ways. Please know that CSU deeply values our international student population and is committed to supporting you to the best of our abilities.”

An F-1 visa allows international students to enter the U.S. to study at an accredited university or college. 

It’s not clear why the students’ visas were revoked. Both schools declined to release more information, citing privacy reasons.

NAFSA, the Association of International Educators said the federal government’s visa revocations have created an atmosphere of fear and confusion for students and undermine academic freedom, free speech and research opportunities in the U.S.

“These actions by the government will likely result in prospective students choosing to study elsewhere and current students accelerating the completion of their degrees so they can return home sooner,” Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA, said Monday in a statement. 

“Students have many options when it comes to study destinations. Losing international students’ contributions will negatively impact U.S. engagement with the world, as well as the country’s economic strength, security, and global competitiveness. These outcomes run counter to the administration’s stated goal of making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” Aw said. 

The Trump administration has tried to remove noncitizen students from the country for participating in campus protests against Israel and the war in Gaza.

“We know there are more students at Columbia and other universities across the country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-semitic, anti-American activity,” President Donald Trump said in a social media post. “We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country — never to return again.” 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said 300 student visas had been revoked as of March 27. He said the U.S. has the right to take away the visas of students who participate in campus protests.

“We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visa,” Rubio said. 

It’s not clear if the CSU students that had their visas revoked had participated in protests. 

Metropolitan State University of Denver and Colorado College said none of their students have been impacted.