Students and staff gather inside of the College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology building on the campus of the University of Cincinnati on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The protests come after the university announced it was evaluating DEI initiatives.
Orange County, California – In a sweeping move that has reverberated across California’s higher education system, the Trump administration has revoked hundreds of student visas nationwide—an action now impacting international students at colleges and universities in Orange County and beyond.
The cancellations have affected institutions both large and small, including University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) campuses, as well as private schools such as Chapman University. Officials across the state have voiced concern over the lack of transparency and communication surrounding the revocations.
According to CSU officials, 70 international students have been impacted statewide as of Tuesday. At UCLA, nine students had their visas canceled by April 6, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta confirmed that nearly 100 students at UC, CSU, and Stanford University have been affected. Cal State Fullerton has seen four visa terminations, with no prior notice given to the institution.
Michael Mahi, a Cal State Fullerton spokesperson, said the university has reached out to the affected students and provided legal referrals through a third party. “It’s really important to us to make sure that they continue their education,” Mahi said.
The revocations have shocked students and administrators alike. “It’s absolutely horrifying,” one Fullerton student told KTLA. Another added, “I didn’t believe this would come to our campus because of how diverse it is here.”
UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive reaffirmed her campus’s support, saying, “UC Santa Cruz is enriched by the contributions of our international community members.”
Nationally, higher education leaders and legal experts are raising alarms. Many visa terminations appear to have occurred without explanation. Some students reportedly faced cancellation due to minor infractions, while others may have been targeted over pro-Palestinian activism.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the federal government is pursuing terminations for reasons including potential criminal activity and perceived opposition to U.S. foreign policy. Still, the State Department has not responded to media inquiries.
The cancellations threaten not just students’ futures but the financial health of California institutions. With over 154,000 international students in the state—more than any other in the U.S.—colleges risk losing millions in tuition revenue. In 2022–23 alone, UC collected $1.1 billion from nonresident supplemental tuition.
Bernie Burrola of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities warned of a chilling effect. “Do they want to invest that time and money and then get a visa termination?” he asked.
Ted Mitchell of the American Council on Education called for fairness and due process, emphasizing that international students are vital to U.S. academic and economic interests.
California leaders continue to demand clarity, while students await answers.
