CLEVELAND — Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the State Department has revoked the visas of more than 300 international students studying here in the United States.
That includes students at some of Ohio's largest schools — at least 11 at Ohio State University, one current Kent State University student and three recent Kent State graduates, three at the University of Akron and several at the University of Cincinnati.
More than a million international students study at colleges and universities across the country, according to the Institute of International Education. Hundreds are now having their visas revoked by the U.S. State Department, many without notice or explanation.
Mohamed Ahmed is an international student at Ohio State and a member of the student government. He said the organization is working closely with the university to make sure all his international classmates have what they need.
“The university will do everything it can to make sure that they feel safe in this learning environment," said Ahmed. “And one of the ways we're doing that is making sure that we're reaching out to admin, saying that they use all of their resources to protect them.”
Kent State University confirmed one current student and three recent graduates have had their visas revoked. The university stated, "We are deeply committed to working with our current student to devise degree completion options, and with our recent graduates to assist with their situations.”
Kent State University President Todd Diacon urged international students to have a copy of their documents with them and share copies of their documents with local family and friends.
Diacon also advised faculty and staff contacted by law enforcement to always remain calm and professional. Immediately contact Kent State police and contact Kent State's office of general counsel for guidance.
At the University of Akron, three students’ visas were revoked, and a spokesperson said their "SEVIS" or "Student and Exchange Visitor Information System" records have also been removed — meaning they can no longer legally study, work or remain in the United States.
The SEVIS system keeps track and monitors information about nonimmigrant students (F and M visas) and exchange visitors (J visas) in the United States. The system is used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“An F-1 student status means that you can come to the United States, study at a particular university," said Stacy Cozart Martin, an immigration lawyer for MJB Immigration and said her law firm is now receiving calls and emails about student visas and statues.
She said the student visa is focused on travel to and from the U.S., while the student status focuses on the student’s eligibility to be in the states legally.
“If your status or visa is revoked, the first thing I would do is talk to your DSO, which is which is your designated school official," said Cozart Martin. “They are the ones who manage the service system, which is a system that keeps track of foreign students in the U.S. and they're your first line of defense.”
Martin's advice for students facing the loss of a visa is to get an immigration attorney, adding students should know their rights and whether you must leave the U.S. immediately.
For Ahmed, as an international student and someone who works for his student body, he said know there are resources available.
“The student government, we really don't care about the reason. We are here to protect students. We're here to serve students, and that's what we'll continue doing," said Ahmed.
Cozart Martin said some of the reasons a student visa can be revoked are not keeping a full-course study or violating immigration status in some way.
