March 30, 2025: International students in the US are facing a shocking crackdown. The US Department of State (DOS) has emailed hundreds of students, telling them to leave the country because their student visas (F1) have been revoked.

The reason for this action seems to be the students’ involvement in campus activism. Even students, who just shared, liked or commented on social media posts considered “anti national” are being targeted. This has raised concerns about free speech for international students in the US.

Some Indian students are among those affected. Immigration lawyers say that even sharing a political post can lead to visa revocation. India has the second largest number of international students in the US, with 331,000 students out of 1.1 million.

The US Department of States’s email warns students that staying in the US without valid visa can result in fines, detention or deportation. Students may also be sent back to a country other than their home country. If they want to visit US in the future, they’ll have to apply for a new visa.