In recent weeks, foreign students across the United States have been watching a troubling trend unfold on their social media timelines: plainclothes officers arriving without warning and detaining peers in unmarked vehicles.
The individuals taken by immigration authorities have not been formally accused of any crimes. Instead, they appear to have been singled out for their participation in pro-Palestinian activism on university grounds.
As the pace of the deportations and detention speeds up, the large Indian student community across the US is deeply worried. Many of them have curtailed their weekend entertainments, socialising, and travelling within the country for fear of being caught by immigration officials and the police.
Roughly 30 percent of the foreign students in the US are Indian. Last year, around 3.40 lakh students went to the US for higher studies. In 2023-24, 3,32 lakh Indian students enrolled in US universities. A huge portion of these students had gone to the US hoping to stay on in the country.
Almost a half of foreign students who have had their visas revoked or Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records terminated were from India.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) said it has, with the help of attorneys, students, and university employees across the US, collected 327 reports of visa revocations and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) terminations.
The Trump administration has made its stance on student immigration clear, reiterating that visas are a "privilege" that may be withdrawn for numerous reasons.
However, the scale of enforcement has proven to be broader than many initially suspected. Over 1,000 international students or recent alumni have seen their visa statuses revoked or altered. In many instances, the basis for these revocations remains unclear, with universities only becoming aware of the developments when consulting SEVIS, the government-run student visa tracking system.
As these detentions multiply and revocations mount, a climate of unease has taken hold at American colleges—from large public campuses to the Ivy League.
"I could be next," said a student at Georgetown University, who has written articles on the Israel-Gaza conflict. To prepare for any possible confrontation with law enforcement, he now carries a card that outlines his constitutional rights. Another student, studying in Texas, said he feels too afraid to even step outside for groceries.
Some academic departments are also beginning to feel the ripple effects, as overseas researchers hesitate to return to the US. Out of fear that media exposure could put them at further risk, most students decline to speak to the media.
The motivations behind the visa actions are varied. While some affected students have minor legal infractions, such as traffic violations, many others were involved in demonstrations. Even Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that "a lot" of those affected had participated in pro-Palestinian protests.
"Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas," Rubio said during a press briefing in late March. "We do it every day." The government contends it is acting against individuals who have threatened campus safety or voiced sympathy for Hamas, a group officially designated as a terrorist organisation by the US.
Critics argue this violates basic freedoms. Civil rights organisations have voiced concern, calling the wave of detentions and deportation threats a clear infringement on constitutional protections. The students, for their part, deny any connection to Hamas and insist their activism centres on opposition to the war and US foreign policy.
At Georgetown University, the spring bloom is tinged with tension as handwritten messages reading "protect our students" decorate doors across campus.
In March, federal officers detained postdoctoral researcher Badar Khan Suri outside his home in Virginia. He was accused of "promoting antisemitism on social media" and alleged ties to a "known or suspected terrorist"—a reference believed to point to his Palestinian father-in-law, once an adviser to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
His case followed that of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University protest organiser who holds a green card. He was arrested at his New York residence and is currently being held in Louisiana, awaiting deportation proceedings.
Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts graduate student who co-wrote a student op-ed on Gaza, was detained in Massachusetts and is also in federal custody in Louisiana.
More recently, Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi was apprehended in Vermont while attending a citizenship interview. Like Khalil, he is not on a student visa but a permanent resident cardholder.
"Based on the detentions that we're seeing, I think there is a possibility anyone who has been outspoken about Palestine can be detained," the Georgetown student added.
The White House has stated that individuals who pose a perceived risk to US national interests may be removed. In Khalil’s case, officials cited a Cold War-era law that allows for deportation if a person’s presence could adversely affect American foreign policy.
On social media, the Columbia Jewish Alumni Association celebrated Khalil’s arrest, labelling him the "ringleader of chaos" on campus.
Surveys indicate immigration is one of the policy areas where President Trump enjoys stronger support. Polls by Reuters and AP-NORC reveal about half of US adults approve of his immigration measures—surpassing his general approval ratings.
The federal government is also placing pressure on institutions themselves. This week, it froze over $2 billion in funding to Harvard University after the university refused to comply with conditions perceived as compromising its autonomy.
Trump officials warned that failure to submit information on certain students could lead to an outright visa ban for all incoming international students to Harvard.
Georgetown professor Nader Hashemi believes the real motive is to stamp out dissent. "This is part of the trauma that I think students are facing," he noted.
Fearing possible arrest or surveillance, the Georgetown student has asked his parents to cancel plans to attend his upcoming graduation. He remains uncertain about even showing up for the ceremony.
In the meantime, he checks daily for updates on his visa status and has taken steps to protect himself in the event of an arrest.
"I have cleared my chats across messaging apps, and I have learned how to quickly lock my phone in SOS mode," he said.
Some professors have even begun offering up spare rooms to students who fear being targeted at their listed residences. At Tufts, classmates await news on Ozturk, who was detained while on her way to a Ramadan celebration. Video footage shows her visibly shaken as masked agents intercept her, a moment that has circulated widely online.
Ozturk had previously authored a piece endorsing the BDS movement, which seeks to impose economic pressure on Israel.
At Tufts, PhD student Anteri Mejr described a wave of fear among international students. Those who left the country for personal or academic travel are now reluctant to return. "There are students working remotely because they're afraid they can't get back in the country," he said.
In Texas, campus whispers about potential ICE raids have left students in a state of dread. "I'm scared to be out. I'm scared to come to the university; I'm even scared to go grocery shopping," said one PG student. "I'm afraid that if I'm walking, I will be approached by agents in incognito clothes and plain disguise," he added.
Although he has not taken part in any demonstrations, his criticism of the president online has him deeply worried.
"How far does this administration dig through, like, an immigrant's history?" he wondered. "What if I did say something and I'm not aware."
