


Twelve international students and graduates affiliated with UC Davis had their visas revoked over the weekend, according to a statement from university officials.
UC Davis officials released a statement Friday evening announcing the termination of 12 F-1 visas for seven current students and five recent graduates, which appears to be a part of the hundreds of student visas across the United States being discontinued. The number of students impacted could rise, and the federal government has not explained the reasons behind these terminations, according to Chancellor Gary S. May.
“Federal agents have not entered our campus, and they have not placed any member of our community in custody,” May said. “We recognize that these actions are distressing for many in our campus community. We expect this situation to remain fluid, and we continue to closely monitor and assess its implications. We are providing resources for those impacted.”
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, an F-1 visa gives international students legal status to study in the United Statesto at a college, university, high school, elementary school or other academic institutions.
More than 300 student visas across the country have been revoked since President Donald Trump took office earlier this year, including over three dozen across the University of California system. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who announced the visa revokations in March, and the administration appear to be targetting foreign-born students involved in activism.
According to reporting by NBC News, several high profile pro-Palestine student activists have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Associated Press reported some students’ visas appeared to have been revoked over pro-Palestinian activism or criminal infraction, including some traffic violations.
UC Davis’ announcement comes one day after UC San Diego had five of its students’ visas terminated and one student was deported. May emphasized in his statement UC Davis police wouldn’t collaborate with federal immigration enforcement officers.
“Campus police officers will not contact, detain, question or arrest an individual solely on the basis of suspected undocumented immigration status or to discover the immigration status of any individuals,” May stated. “UC police will not undertake joint efforts with federal immigration enforcement authorities to investigate, detain or arrest individuals for violation of federal immigration law.”
The chancellor said he wants to ensure students UC Davis policies “protect the privacy and civil rights of our students and all members” of the community.
“Those policies are consistent with federal law, the California Constitution and California statutes, which provide broad privacy protection to all members of our community,” he states. “Consistent with these laws and policies, we do not release confidential student information, including immigration status or related information, without the appropriate judicial warrant, subpoena, court order or as otherwise required or expressly authorized by law.”