The United States has ordered hundreds of international students, including Nigerians, to leave the country following a large-scale cancellation of student visas by the Trump administration.
A stern message, reportedly from the Department of Homeland Security and shared by immigration lawyer Nicole Micheroni, warned affected students: “Do not attempt to remain in the United States. The federal government will find you.”
There have been reports of students being detained without prior warning, with many still uncertain about the reasons for their visa revocation.
Attorney Dustin Baxter, representing over 100 impacted students in a lawsuit against the U.S. government, said, “In some cases, visas were revoked simply after an encounter or a minor citation, even without formal charges or arrests.” He added that some students were never involved in protests or criminal activity.
Some students learned of their revoked status not from immigration officials but from their universities. Many institutions said they received no formal communication from federal authorities and only became aware when checking the government’s SEVIS system.
For instance, Stanford University stated that it discovered visa cancellations affecting four students and two alumni through a routine review of the SEVIS database on April 4.
An immigration lawyer told CNN that this marks a sharp departure from previous procedures. “Before the Trump administration, visa revocations in SEVIS were generally initiated by designated school officers. Now, ICE is taking direct action,” said Jeff Joseph, incoming president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
One notable case involved a Tufts University doctoral student, Rümeysa Öztürk, who was detained in handcuffs shortly after her visa was withdrawn without warning. Court documents cited surveillance footage showing her visibly panicked during the arrest.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the cancellations are being carried out under a policy clause aimed at individuals considered to pose “serious foreign policy consequences.”
The State Department emphasized that it holds wide authority to revoke visas at any time and continues to monitor compliance. “We are constantly reviewing visa holders, and any breach of conditions will result in revocation and deportation,” the agency warned.
