Published: April 20, 2025, 04:30 PM
The US government’s recent visa crackdown has left thousands of international students — including many from India and Bangladesh — facing revocations of their study or work visas, according to a report by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). The AILA brief highlights that out of 327 recent visa revocations it tracked, about 50% involved Indian students, followed by Chinese nationals, with Bangladeshis also included in the count.
The US State Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have reportedly intensified scrutiny over the last four months, screening student data for social, political, and protest activity — in some cases allegedly using AI systems that critics warn could misidentify students with no history of crime or radical activism.
This effort gained momentum in March after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the "Catch and Revoke" programme, which involves monitoring social media for signs of anti-Semitism, support for Palestinians or Hamas, and other flagged activity. Students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) — who are allowed to work in the US post-graduation — have been especially affected, with about half of the revoked visas falling under this category.
ICE data reveals that 4,736 students’ visa statuses have been terminated in SEVIS (the US Department of Homeland Security’s international student tracking system). While most affected students are from India and China, other nationalities — including Bangladeshis — have faced similar action.
The Indian government has acknowledged the issue. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed they’re aware of the situation and that Indian consular officials in the US are in contact with affected students.
Meanwhile, immigration lawyers describe the scope and speed of these administrative actions as unprecedented, raising serious legal and human rights concerns, with litigation likely on the horizon.
