Indiana University Provost Rahul Shrivastav announced Tuesday that a "small number" of IU students have had their visas revoked by the Trump administration, as universities nationwide face similar challenges.
Speaking at a Bloomington Faculty Council meeting, Shrivastav noted that while academic departments and faculty are supporting affected students, the university's ability to intervene is limited since visa matters fall under federal jurisdiction.
"No institution actually controls visa issues," Shrivastav said. "Those are federal regulations and federal jurisdiction. With what is within our ability, we are trying to help as best as we can."
The exact number of affected IU students remains unclear due to student privacy laws. Hannah Buxbaum, IU vice president of international affairs, explained that schools are not notified when immigration authorities revoke student visas, making it difficult to track cases or take preventive action.
Faculty members expressed concern about the lack of clear communication. Anthropology professor Beth Buggenhagen highlighted the confusion among faculty and students. "Our undergraduates and our graduate students are coming to us and asking us, 'What can they do? What can we do?'" she said.
The situation at IU reflects a broader national pattern. The New York Times reports nearly 300 student visas have been revoked across the country. An unnamed college president told Inside Higher Ed that the revocations appeared unrelated to criminal activity or foreign policy threats, stating, "We have no idea why their visas have been revoked."
This development comes as other institutions, including Purdue University, respond to congressional demands for information about their international student populations, particularly regarding Chinese students.
The university administration continues to monitor the situation, with Shrivastav noting it remains "an ongoing process" subject to daily changes.