US cancels hundreds of student visas using AI, orders self-deportation amid crackdown on campus protests
PTC Web Desk: The United States government has revoked the visas of hundreds of international students as part of an AI-powered crackdown on campus activism. Emails were sent to students holding F1 (academic), M1 (vocational), and J1 (exchange) visas, informing them of their visa cancellations and instructing them to self-deport via the CBP Home App.
The initiative, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is targeting students who "appear to support" Hamas or other designated terror organisations. Within just three weeks of the Department of State’s directive, more than 300 international students had their visas revoked, according to reports from Axios and The Times of India.
The US government is using AI technology to scan the social media profiles of international students, identifying those who have expressed sympathies toward Hamas or engaged in campus protests. The policy extends not only to those who participated in demonstrations but also to individuals who merely liked or shared posts deemed “anti-national.”
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, the Secretary of State holds the power to revoke visas of foreign nationals considered a threat. The authorities have also been reviewing past arrests of visa holders who remained in the US under the Biden administration.
Earlier, students on F1 and J1 visas were allowed to stay in the US as long as they maintained their visa status under the "Duration of Status" (D/S) rule. However, the new policy enforces immediate revocation, requiring affected students to surrender their passports at a US embassy for physical cancellation.
Those found without lawful immigration status could face detention, fines, or future visa ineligibility. The US Fraud Prevention Units are also saving screenshots of individuals’ social media activity in case they attempt to alter their online presence after being flagged.
Since October 2023, federal agencies have scanned over 1,00,000 profiles in the Student Exchange Visitor System to track protests, suspensions, and arrests among foreign students. If a student has been arrested or suspended, a consular officer is authorised to revoke their visa.
- With inputs from agencies
