The federal government has revoked visas for 27 international students at the University of Texas at Arlington, university officials announced Thursday. The university has the third-highest international student population in the state, according to .
鈥淭he University of Texas at Arlington is aware that the visa status of 27 enrolled international students have unexpectedly changed in recent days,鈥� a university spokesperson said. 鈥淯TA officials are contacting affected students to provide information and support based on each student鈥檚 circumstances and preference.鈥�
In an April 10 letter to the campus community, UTA President Jennifer Cowley wrote that the university does not have specifics behind the decisions to revoke the visas.
鈥淲e are committed to helping our international student community to ensure they receive necessary support,鈥� Cowley said.
Over the past several days, a reported 100-plus students across Texas have learned their visas were revoked or their immigration status was marked as terminated in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System database, according to .
The University of North Texas has reported 27 students who have been affected, while the University of Texas at Dallas confirmed 19. There are nearly 90,000 international students in the state, according to , with UNT, UTD and UTA as the three leading institutions. UTA, according to UT System data for fall 2024, enrolls about 5,500 international students.
It鈥檚 unclear how government officials have selected students for removal, though the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that it had begun screening international students鈥� social media for 鈥渁ntisemitic鈥� views.
The announcement comes as the Trump administration has who participated in pro-Palestine protests on college campuses last year, including some with in the U.S. UTA was the site of last spring, including one that led to the arrest of an instructor.
Contact the Fort Worth Report
If you are affected by the visa changes, or know someone who is, contact higher education reporter Shomial Ahmad at shomial.ahmad@fortworthreport.org.
Law enforcement officers have not been on campus or contacted UTA officials about the visa revocations. Cowley reminded students the university has provided for how students, faculty and staff should respond if they are approached by federal immigration officers, and of the availability of free, confidential mental health support on campus.
A variety of offices are responding to the visa changes, Cowley wrote. UTA鈥檚 Office of International Education has directly contacted all affected students and is checking the system daily to identify new changes to students鈥� statuses. The student affairs office is providing emergency resources and referrals to immigration legal assistance.
鈥淚nternational students are and will remain valued members of the Maverick community,鈥� Cowley wrote. 鈥淲e have a long history of welcoming students from all over the world.鈥�
Administrators and members of a on the university will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates, Cowley added.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
Shomial Ahmad is a higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report, in partnership with . Contact her at shomial.ahmad@fortworthreport.org.
Haley Samsel is the content editor for the Fort Worth Report. You can reach them at haley.samsel@fortworthreport.org.
The Report鈥檚 higher education coverage is supported in part by major higher education institutions in Tarrant County, including Tarleton State University, Tarrant County College, Texas A&M-Fort Worth, Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, the University of Texas at Arlington and UNT Health Science Center.
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