40 international students studying in the United States have had their visas revoked due to traffic offences as the administration of President Donald Trump continues to intensify its immigration crackdown.
Reports indicate that the US State Department and Department of Homeland Security have targeted students at various institutions, citing infractions as small as speeding tickets, running red lights, or driving with expired registrations.
According to reports, the affected students, many on F-1 visas, have been instructed to self-deport immediately or face detention and removal proceedings.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass had earlier reported that the current US administration has been targeting not only undocumented immigrants but also those with legal status, including US student visa holders and green card recipients with a wave of high-profile arrests, detentions, and visa revocations.
In a new development, one of the students affected from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Lisa, said she was just a month away from graduation when she got an unexpected email, according to The Guardian UK.
Lisa said she had committed a “minor traffic issue from the year before.” She said she got two tickets and was fingerprinted when she went to court.
“ISS is writing to inform you that your SEVIS record was terminated,” the email said.
SEVIS stands for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that when a student’s SEVIS record is terminated, they must leave the United States within 15 days. Staying beyond this period poses the risk of deportation or potential bans on re-entry into the country.
Also, another student identified just as Bill, who spoke with the press, said he has found himself in a challenging situation after being ticketed for driving with an expired license. He said his case is currently in court, and he faces a difficult dilemma. He is required to attend court proceedings; however, there is a risk of being detained if he remains there.
Similarly, several other students in schools like Stanford, UCLA, UC San Diego, Ohio State, and the University of Oregon are also affected.
This also comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had on March 27 disclosed that the State Department has revoked 300 or more student visas, as the White House increasingly targets international students over activism, traffic violations and other minor civil infractions that were hitherto not issues of concern for legal immigrants.
