According to recent information, the US government has canceled the visas of more than 6,000 international students. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
According to the BBC report, this decision is related to reasons such as staying illegally in the country after the visa expiration, involvement in various violations, and participation in dangerous activities. Approximately more than 4,000 of the canceled visas are connected to criminal activities — assault, driving under the influence, theft, and other offenses.
Additionally, 200-300 visas were canceled based on accusations of involvement in terrorist activities that threaten human life or violate US laws. This decision was made during the period when control over international students was intensified under the Donald Trump administration.
Although officials have not fully explained the concept of aiding terrorism, some students who demonstrated in support of Palestine were considered antisemitic. Furthermore, visa interviews for students at US embassies were temporarily suspended.
Later, when the interviews resumed, applicants were required to openly show their social media accounts. This measure was introduced to ensure national security and to identify individuals supporting terrorist groups.
According to Open Doors data, in the 2023/2024 academic year, more than 1.1 million international students from over 210 countries studied in the United States. This constitutes approximately 6 percent of the total student population in the country.
Experts believe that these measures may negatively affect the flow of international students and admission policies at educational institutions in the US in the future. Thus, the restrictions and increased control imposed on international students may seriously impact cooperation and exchange processes in the field of education.
