A recent survey has revealed that nine in 10 international students fear for their United States visa status amid the ongoing U.S President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
According to a report by the nonprofit group Stop AAPI Hate, a staggering 90% of students surveyed reported being “moderately, very, or extremely fearful” about their legal standing in the country.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the climate of anxiety comes as shifting immigration policies and increased federal scrutiny create an atmosphere of uncertainty on campuses nationwide.
Only 4% of respondents stated they felt “very or extremely safe” regarding their immigration status.
According to the report, many students have been practicing self-censorship, with 86% modifying their social media presence and 88% scaling back political engagement to avoid potential repercussions.
The report also highlighted that nine in 10 international students fear for their US visa status, leading many to avoid non-essential travel or even public demonstrations for fear of sudden detainment or deportation.
“International students describe living under constant uncertainty – unsure which actions might jeopardise their status or future,” stated the report.
The survey was conducted by Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit group dedicated to fighting discrimination against Asian and Pacific Islander people in the U.S. It encompassed 87 international students at different levels of study from 36 institutions across the U.S.
It follows months of Trump’s immigration crackdown, which has revoked over 8,000 student visas and whose suspension of new visa interviews earlier this year caused widespread disruptions for those aiming to study on U. S campuses this fall.
Also, the U.S government’s arrests and detentions of international students participating in pro-Palestinian speech, since ruled illegal by a federal judge, led several survey respondents to highlight fears of unlawful detention or deportation.
“This retreat from visibility limits students’ participation in campus life and undermines the principles of openness and inquiry that universities are meant to uphold,” stated the survey.
It captured the anxiety of students living in limbo, highlighting accounts of students self-censoring, feeling like they are “under siege” and feeling powerless to participate in protests or “to speak up for social justice and participate in civil actions”.
Testimonials highlighted fears of sudden detainment or deportation without due process, increased surveillance, the loss of freedom, and the possibility of being unable to complete their programs or secure employment after graduation.
Students from China, who comprise the second largest cohort of international students in the US, reported heightened fears of being watched or targeted as potential security threats.
Though never materialising into concrete policy, in May 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared the US would “aggressively revoke” Chinese student visas, framing his crusade under the guise of protecting national security.
Also, the report revealed that students expressed concerns over increasingly fragile study-to-work pipelines in the U.S, citing the administration’s abrupt hiking of the cost of new H-1B visa petitions to $100,000.
While the government clarified the new fee would not apply to international students and other visa holders changing status within the U.S, the move sparked widespread distress among employers who are keeping a close eye on widely anticipated changes to Optional Practical Training (OPT), expected imminently.
Meanwhile, in the survey, over 60% of international students said recent policies had negatively impacted travel plans, and almost a third said they had experienced harassment or unfair treatment off campus.
Many respondents said they could no longer recommend the US as a study destination to prospective students. “Reconsider your decision and look at places where you are valued and supported,” one student wrote.
The survey comes as new international enrolments across U.S campuses dropped by 17% this semester as per initial IIE data, with the decline expected to worsen if the current policy environment continues.
“Faced with fear, uncertainty, and shifting immigration policies, students overwhelmingly called for colleges and universities to take stronger, more proactive steps to safeguard their education, safety, and rights,” urged the report.
