Visa Cancellations and Arrests of Foreign Students in the United States (2025)

In the United States, a series of administrative actions involving visa cancellations, detentions, and deportation orders targeting foreign national university students who expressed support for Palestine began in March 2025. These measures gained momentum following the signing on 30 January 2025 of a presidential executive order titled “Combating Antisemitism.”

Administrative and Legal Basis

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on 27 March 2025 that foreign nationals identified as supporters of Hamas could have their student visas revoked and be deported. Rubio indicated that these decisions could be based not only on participation in protests but also on any activity deemed contrary to U.S. foreign policy. It was emphasized that visa revocations directly terminate the students’ right to enter the United States and their legal status within the country.

Rubio asserted that student visas are not a right but an administrative privilege, arguing that “these individuals are not here to study but to engage in organized and destructive actions.” He also stated that visas do not grant students the freedom to engage in political activities within the United States.

It has been reported that this approach toward foreign students is not limited to individuals but also extends to university institutions. Some higher education institutions are being reviewed for their authority to admit international students, and the revocation of certifications issued under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is under consideration. It has been suggested that institutions with a high number of students alleged to support Hamas could face sanctions.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio – Anadolu Ajansı

Detained and Visa-Revoked Students

Mahmud Halil– Columbia University

Palestinian graduate student Mahmud Halil from Columbia University was detained on 3 March 2025 by ICE officials at the university’s Manhattan campus. His lawyer stated that, pursuant to directives from the State Department, Halil’s lawful permanent resident status (green card) was also revoked. It was reported that threats were made during the detention regarding possible action against his wife, who was eight months pregnant.

Halil was first transferred to a detention center in New Jersey and later moved to Louisiana. His lawyer noted that no official explanation was provided regarding the grounds for detention or the change of location. Protests erupted on the Columbia University campus, with students demanding his release.

Rümeysa Öztürk – Tufts University

Turkish national Rümeysa Öztürk, a Fulbright scholar pursuing her doctorate at Tufts University, was detained on 25 March 2025 by civilian ICE agents as she left her home in Massachusetts to break her fast. During the detention, her hands were cuffed behind her back, and the incident was recorded by bystanders. The university administration stated it had no prior knowledge of the detention.

Öztürk’s student visa was revoked, and she was accused of inciting rebellion, pressuring students, and attempting to seize campus buildings. Official statements claimed she engaged in activities inconsistent with her visa status. No public information was provided regarding her detention location or her whereabouts after arrest, prompting her family and supporters to make statements on various platforms. Her information was published on the internet site Canary Mission, which targets pro-Palestinian students.

Badar Khan Suri – Georgetown University

Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national pursuing a master’s degree at Georgetown University and serving as an instructor at the Washington Institute, was detained on 15 March 2025 outside his home in Arlington, Virginia, by ICE agents. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin alleged that Suri promoted Hamas propaganda and shared antisemitic content. Suspicion was also raised regarding his contact with individuals linked to terrorism.

Suri was transferred to the Alexandria Detention Center. Georgetown University stated it had no information indicating Suri engaged in unlawful activity and emphasized the need for transparency in the legal process. His deportation order was temporarily halted by Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles.

Alireza Doroudi – University of Alabama

Iranian national Alireza Doroudi, pursuing a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama, was detained at his home by ICE agents. Doroudi is in the United States on an F-1 student visa. University officials stated they were unaware of the detention, and ICE provided no public explanation for the action.

Leqaa Kordia – Columbia University

Columbia University student Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian of West Bank origin, was detained by ICE in April 2024 for participating in pro-Palestinian protest demonstrations.

Ranjani Srinivasan – Columbia University

The student visa of doctoral candidate Ranjani Srinivasan was revoked by the Department of Homeland Security on 5 March 2025. She was accused of engaging in activities supporting Hamas and has since left the United States.

Expansion of the Policy and Affected Universities

According to available data, as of 4 April 2025, at least 600 students had their visas revoked. These students were affiliated with more than 100 universities. Affected institutions include Columbia, Tufts, Georgetown, Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Ohio State, and Minnesota.

Visa revocations were not limited to protest participants; minor infractions such as traffic violations, identity errors, fingerprint records, and social media likes were also used as evidence. Many students faced immediate expulsion without being granted the standard 15-day period to depart the country.

Digital Surveillance and AI-Powered Monitoring

U.S. State Department officials disclosed that screening policies for student visas are being carried out using AI-powered systems. Under the campaign titled “Catch and Cancel,” thousands of foreign students’ social media content—particularly posts linked to Hamas after 7 October 2023—have been analyzed. Content related to anti-Jewish incidents and anti-Israel protests has also been used as evidence in visa revocations and deportation decisions.

Detentions of International Students Continue

Mohsen Mahdawi – Columbia University

Mohsen Mahdawi, a student at Columbia University’s School of General Studies, was detained by ICE agents on Monday, 14 April 2025, while attending a naturalization test appointment at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Colchester, Vermont. Mahdawi entered the United States legally in 2014 and has resided in the country since 2015 with a permanent resident card (green card).

Mohsen Mahdawi - Columbia Spectator

In a habeas corpus petition filed on 15 April 2025 at the U.S. District Court for Vermont by his attorney Luna Droubi, it was stated that the grounds for Mahdawi’s detention were based on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s invocation of Section 212(a)(3)(A)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which cites a threat to U.S. foreign policy. On the same day, Judge William Sessions issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting Mahdawi’s removal from Vermont or the United States.

On 30 April 2025, U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered Mahdawi’s release. The court ruling emphasized that Mahdawi had held lawful permanent resident status for ten years and that his application remained within the legal framework. Mahdawi was released on bond and issued a statement to the press upon leaving the courtroom.

Mahdawi is pursuing a degree in philosophy at Columbia University and is scheduled to graduate in May 2025. Court documents noted that Mahdawi was born in a refugee camp in the West Bank, played an active role in pro-Palestinian campus protests at Columbia until March 2024, and has not participated in public demonstrations since that date.

Following Mahdawi’s detention, the Columbia Palestine Solidarity Coalition (CPSC) issued a statement expressing support for the student. The statement noted that Mahdawi had previously requested protective housing from Columbia administration in response to ICE threats, but that request went unanswered. After his release, media reports indicated that the deportation case against him is ongoing before an immigration court.

Butler Library Protest and Arrests – Columbia University

On 7 May 2025, at least 70 protesters were arrested during a demonstration held at Butler Library at Columbia University in support of Palestine. A large number of students gathered during the protest, chanting pro-Palestine slogans and conducting an action inside the building.

New York police arrest pro-Palestine demonstrators following the Columbia library protest, 7 May 2025 – Anadolu Agency

Shortly after the demonstration began, Columbia University administration contacted the New York Police Department. Following police entry into the library building, arrests were carried out; tensions occasionally arose between students and security forces during the protest. Columbia University President Claire Shipman stated that those inside the building refused to identify themselves or vacate the premises, which prompted police intervention.

New York police arrest pro-Palestine demonstrators following the Columbia library protest, 7 May 2025 – Anadolu Agency

The student group organizing the protest stated in a published statement that police used force against demonstrators. The statement emphasized that group members refused to disperse and remained determined to continue their actions. According to the statement, the protesters maintained that their demonstrations were nonviolent and part of a broader pro-Palestine movement unfolding across university campuses.

Similar protests occurred on the same day at other universities, and administrative measures such as the freezing of federal funding have been brought to the agenda in connection with these demonstrations. Columbia University stated that it is responding to investigations into antisemitism under directives from the Trump administration and has taken necessary compliance steps to prevent the cancellation of its approximately 400 million dollars in federal funding.