George Mason University responds to the U.S. government’s decision to revoke 15 student visas
BY BARRETT BALZER, NEWS EDITOR
On April 15, President Washington’s office sent a campus-wide email confirming recent reports, detailed in Axios, regarding the visa statuses of international students at George Mason.
The confirmation follows President Trump’s executive orders, signed on Jan. 20, declaring a national security emergency over immigration processing, requiring a more enhanced vetting screening of immigrants seeking citizenship.
Following the executive orders, international students and faculties across the nation have had their visas revoked along with being detained and facing deportation threats. On March 8, Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate and pro-Palestine advocate, was, reportedly, named the first student to have their green card revoked, and later detained and arrested.
The email read, “George Mason University has learned that the U.S. Government has terminated and/or revoked student visas of 15 international students.”
“To be clear, we played no role in facilitating these visa terminations. We have not shared confidential student visa status or immigration information with federal authorities.”
The email outlined the steps Mason is taking to assist the affected students. “First, our Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) is in direct contact with the affected students to provide them with support and additional external resources.”
“Second, students are being advised to contact their academic dean to see what options they may have to complete their coursework. The Provost’s Office is encouraging faculty to work with students who may be found in these situations, providing as much flexibility as possible.”
“And third, the university has reached out to the appropriate federal authorities to learn what process is being used to identify students for revocations. So far, no answers have been given. We are also seeking appropriate legal clarity from legal support referred to us by the state Attorney General’s Office.”
“To our 4,000 international students and our 36,000 American students, we care about your well-being, and we are doing everything possible to maintain a stable, positive scholarly environment for you. We will keep you updated as events warrant,” ended the email addressed to the student body.
Other universities in Virginia, such as VCU, Virginia Tech and UVA, were also listed to revoke international visas without warning.
Student Body President Maria Cuesta and Vice President Colin McAulay posted an Instagram statement regarding travel and immigration concerns set by Mason OIPS.
“Stay informed about possible travel bans. No bans are currently in place, but policies can change rapidly. Monitor updates to see if your country may be affected.
“Expect possible delays in visa processing if you plan to renew your visa while abroad. Interviews may be harder to schedule and processing times longer.
“Be mindful of re-entry risks. Most F-1 and J-1 students can re-enter the U.S. without issue, but entry is ultimately up to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).”
At the end of her statement, Cuesta said, “We’re here. We matter. We belong”
