Dozens of non-citizen students in the US have seen their legal status abruptly revoked over minor infractions, sparking concern over an increasingly aggressive immigration stance under the Trump administration.

Lisa, a final-year student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, was enjoying a quiet evening when she received an unexpected message from her university’s international office. The message confirmed her SEVIS record had been terminated—an action that rendered her legal status in the US invalid almost instantly.

She is one of nearly 40 students across the country who have been caught off-guard by a sweeping revocation of student visas, with no warning and vague references to criminal records. In most cases, students had previously been fingerprinted for minor infractions such as speeding or licence issues—incidents they believed had long been resolved in court.

With their records flagged, the students were declared “out of status” under US immigration rules, requiring them to leave the country within 15 days or risk deportation. The trigger for this sudden purge appears to be an internal directive within the Department of Homeland Security, applying broad screening criteria across the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

The backlash follows recent remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated the government was actively revoking student visas for individuals deemed security risks. However, legal experts suggest these students were never given a chance to explain their situations—many of which involved citations that did not result in convictions.

David, a Chinese graduate on optional practical training, learned of his visa termination four months after a dismissed court case. Although the charge was dropped and records expunged, his SEVIS entry was still flagged, ending his employment authorisation immediately. His company is now trying to relocate him to Canada.

Bill, another affected student, was penalised for driving with an expired licence and attended court to resolve the matter. Weeks later, his SEVIS record was cancelled, despite no outstanding charges. He now faces the impossible choice between staying illegally or risking detention by attending a scheduled court appearance.

Immigration attorney Shenqi Cai, who has been handling several of the cases, describes the situation as unprecedented. “It’s a blanket policy being applied to a diverse group of individuals who weren’t given a fair process,” she said.

In response, students across US campuses are organising protests, legal aid networks, and information sessions. An online database created by students shows visa revocations reported at over 50 universities, from California to the East Coast.

Despite the scale of disruption, the federal government has not issued any public clarification.

For Lisa, who had secured a job and graduate school offer, the future is now in limbo. “I just want to know if I’m still graduating,” she said. “If not, I don’t know where that leaves me.”