The U.S. State Department said student visa cancellations have reached more than 6,000 in 2025, citing overstays and legal violations, according to Fox News on Aug 18th. Offenses included assault, DUI, robbery, and terrorism support.
A senior official told Fox News that “all student visas canceled under the Donald Trump administration were because the students either broke the law while in the United States or supported terrorism.” About 4,000 visas were revoked for legal violations alone, including assault and drunk driving. Approximately 800 students lost visas for assault-related cases and “were arrested or face indictment.” Another 200 to 300 students had visas canceled for supporting terrorism, including participation in fundraising for Hamas, which the U.S. government designates as a terrorist organization.
Since taking office, Donald Trump has expanded anti-immigration measures to educational institutions. Students who joined pro-Palestinian demonstrations faced strict monitoring, and in May 2025 Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration was reviewing the visa status of those involved. Earlier in early 2025, the department suspended student visa interviews, resuming them in June 2025, and began requiring all applicants to submit their social media accounts.
Critics say the cancellations lack transparency, as the government has not disclosed whether affected students were convicted or what specific acts of terrorism were involved. The Washington Post reported that students are increasingly hesitant to use social media or write in campus newspapers because of tightened enforcement.
According to Open Doors, more than 1.1 million international students from over 210 countries were enrolled in U.S. universities during the 2023–2024 academic year. In total, the U.S. State Department has canceled about 40,000 visas in 2025, compared with 16,000 during the same period under the Biden administration.
