On Monday, April 7, 2025, Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox announced that the federal government had revoked six international student visas from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) — specifically those of two current students and four recent graduates.
Wilcox stated that UCR did not receive “advance notice” or “detailed reasons” for the visa terminations. He assured students that the UCR campus police would not contact or detain individuals solely based on suspected immigration status and that the university does not collaborate with federal immigration enforcement officers regarding violations of federal immigration law.
Chancellors and spokespersons from universities in the UC system have issued similar statements about international students and recent graduates facing visa revocations, including UC Berkeley, UC Los Angeles, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UC San Diego, UC Merced and UC Irvine. As of April 8, 2025, these terminations have affected approximately 50 students and recent graduates across the UC system, according to UC President Michael V. Drake.
The Trump administration is changing student visa statuses through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which is linked to the United States (U.S.) Department of Homeland Security. This system allows universities to digitally track and monitor the immigration status of international students, including their enrollment in classes, completion dates and employment authorizations. Many universities have discovered sudden changes in students’ visa statuses only after checking this federal database.
Students without valid enrollment statuses or visas could face federal immigration enforcement actions. Generally, federal immigration enforcement officers, such as those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), pursue legal action against individuals perceived as public safety or national security threats. However, President Trump’s executive order to investigate “anti-Semitism” on campuses, cancel visas and deport “Hamas sympathizers” has resulted in the targeting of international students.
The primary tool used by the Trump administration to target immigrants and international students is the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. This 18th-century wartime law gives the U.S. president the authority to detain or deport foreign-born individuals who are deemed to be from an “enemy nation.” Initially passed in anticipation of a potential war with France, the act has been invoked during various conflicts, including the War of 1892, World War I and World War II. Most notably, it led to the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
A significant concern with the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 is that it permits the president to target immigrants based on their country of origin and deport them without due process. This means individuals can be detained or deported solely due to their immigration status rather than any criminal record, and they do not have the chance to contest their deportation in court.
The Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 — a wartime authority — to pursue and deport immigrants and international students is both cruel and alarming. Many international students facing visa revocations do not pose a threat to public safety; they seek the unique educational and research opportunities provided by California’s public university system. By weaponizing this 18th-century law, historically used to discriminate against and punish minority groups, the Trump administration is overstepping legal boundaries to target vulnerable communities.
The recent visa revocations will significantly affect students’ feelings of safety and belonging at UCR and across the UC system — physically, emotionally and academically. Reports indicate that international students are already deleting social media accounts, prolonging their stays on campus, self-censoring in classes and even “self-deport[ing]” due to fears of visa revocations and deportation.
The presence of ICE agents on campus — an environment meant to be a safe space for learning — is deeply concerning. Such incidents have already occurred at various universities and elementary schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Federal officials have begun contacting UC faculty members as part of their “anti-Semitism” efforts, requesting personal information on approximately 900 individuals. These actions disrupt the academic experience and place a significant mental burden of fear and uncertainty on students and faculty regarding their everyday lives.
Furthermore, this situation could have a chilling effect on free speech across college campuses. International students — or anyone whom the federal government deems a “threat to public safety” — could face detention or deportation simply for exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech and protest.
While the protests may initially focus on pro-Palestine issues, this sets a troubling precedent that could lead to crackdowns on a range of demonstrations concerning global issues, immigration policies, climate justice and more. The fear of repercussions may deter students — especially international students on visas — and faculty from engaging in free speech on campus, ultimately stifling the exchange of ideas and progressive activism at universities.
In a letter dated April 10, 2025, 23 state lawmakers urged the UC and California State University (CSU) systems to “take urgent and all necessary steps to protect students, faculty, and staff from being targeted by the federal government for free speech activities.”
The letter called on the UC and CSU to uphold their values of free speech by resisting any requests for the names or information of students and faculty involved in Title VI or “anti-Semitism” investigations. Lawmakers also urged these systems to adopt policies that prohibit sharing information about students and faculty members’ immigration status, political activities, protest participation and student organization membership unless legally required to do so.
“California’s colleges and universities have a vital responsibility to encourage robust discussion and the exploration of ideas among students, faculty, and staff, regardless of their nationality or immigration status,” the letter stated.
As of this publication, neither the UC nor the CSU has responded to these requests.
It is frustrating that California lawmakers, students, faculty and staff are all urging the UC to take meaningful action to support its campus communities without receiving any response or action. As a university that prides itself on diversity and inclusion, the chilling impact of federal actions, such as visa revocations, is concerning if the UC and UCR do not provide adequate support and resources for their students. The UCR administration has not adequately addressed students’ concerns about the federal administration’s policies, including recent immigration policies and the dismantling of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs.
The UC and UCR may be attempting to maintain a low profile to avoid becoming targets of the Trump administration. However, recent events have shown that this strategy is ineffective. The UC and UCR are not immune to the federal administration’s regressive policies, and their vague statements and links to resources in emails do not sufficiently protect their students, faculty and staff.
The UC and UCR must take a strong, public stance to protect their students, faculty and staff by implementing policies that safeguard free speech, the right to protest and community safety. If they do not act decisively, President Trump’s efforts to undermine the core values that higher education institutions claim to uphold will prevail.
