US Cracks Down on International Students Over Minor Offences, Dozens Face Deportation

In a surprising and troubling move, U.S. immigration authorities have recently begun targeting international students, including those with minor criminal offenses such as traffic violations. According to a report by The New York Times, at least 147 international students—many of them from India—have received emails from their Designated School Officials (DSOs) informing them that their F-1 student visas are no longer valid.

These emails cite past criminal offenses ranging from speeding, lane shifting, and shoplifting to more serious charges like drunk driving. Despite these cases being months or even years old, and resolved with fines or other legal procedures, students are now being asked to leave the country immediately.

The termination of a student’s SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) record means that their legal F-1 status in the U.S. is revoked. This also makes their Form I-20 and Employment Authorization Document (EAD) invalid, stripping them of the right to stay, study, or work in the U.S. The emails reportedly advise affected students to plan for immediate departure.

Immigration experts and lawyers have expressed concern. Texas-based immigration attorney Chand Paravathneni, currently representing around 30 such students, noted that revoking SEVIS for minor traffic offences or first-time misdemeanors is extremely rare. Offenses like running a red light, having no licensed driver while on a learner's permit, or minor speeding usually result in fines and are dismissed after legal formalities.

Some students from Hyderabad shared their experiences, saying they were never arrested and had followed all legal procedures at the time. One student recalled being fined for driving 80 mph in a 70 mph zone in New York two years ago. Despite clearing the matter then, he was recently told to leave the U.S. while working under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.

Meanwhile, international students, especially those from STEM fields, (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) are also facing uncertainty due to a new bill in Congress that seeks to eliminate OPT. This program allows students to work in the U.S. for up to three years post-graduation. Although similar efforts have failed in the past, this bill, paired with recent deportations, signals an increasing crackdown on foreign students under the current administration.