Visas revoked from international students at some Maryland colleges, schools say

International students at some Maryland colleges had their visas revoked by the federal government, including the University of Maryland, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), and Johns Hopkins University.

Baltimore's Johns Hopkins University told WJZ that about a dozen international students had their visas terminated. UMBC officials confirmed that four international students had their visas taken away.

The University of Maryland said it is aware of some international students being impacted by a visa termination, but school officials didn't clarify how many.

University officials said the students had F-1 visas through the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

An F-1 visa allows a full-time college student to live in the U.S. legally with proof of enrollment, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The visa can often be extended if the path to graduation takes longer than expected.

Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University officials said they have not gotten any information about why those student visas were revoked. They further clarified that they have not received any indication that the changes are due to expressions of free speech on campus. 

As the sponsor of the visas, the university said it has taken action to inform students and is providing support services to those affected. 

So far, officials are not reporting any arrests or detentions of JHU students, though visa terminations require the students to leave the U.S. 

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

A UMBC spokesperson told WJZ that four international students had their visas canceled with no prior notice or explanation. 

UMBC learned about the visa revocations during a daily audit of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, whose website is run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to maintain information regarding student visas.

Cherie Parker, Director of Media Relations for UMBC, said the university has reached out to the impacted students, and some of the students are planning to immediately leave the country, while others are receiving immigration counsel and exploring their options.

Parker told WJZ that UMBC has not received an explanation from the federal government as to why the students' visas were revoked.

"We are coordinating with faculty and university leadership to ensure that students who choose to leave the U.S. are still able to complete their coursework and degree programs," Parker said.

University of Maryland

Hafsa Siddiqi, the Manager of Media Relations at the University of Maryland, said the College Park campus was among those nationwide whose students suddenly lost their ability to legally stay in the U.S.  

The University of Maryland told WJZ it is aware that some international institutions nationwide, including UMD, have "experienced unexpected termination of their lawful status in the U.S."

"UMD's International Students and Scholars Services office will continue to communicate with impacted individuals to provide information specific to their situation," Siddiqi said.

Student visas revoked after pro-Palestine protests 

The Trump administration's crackdown on student visas began with individuals who reportedly participated in pro-Palestine protests that took over several college campuses in 2024. 

An encampment related to the protests lasted for about 14 days at Johns Hopkins University and ended after school leaders and student protestors reached an agreement. 

The encampment violated JHU's policies that protect freedom of expression and aim to ensure campus safety. 

In late March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported that 300 visas had been revoked from students who participated in protests on campuses across the nation. 

Rubio said students who had their visas terminated are "no longer legally in the United States. And we have a right, like every country in the world has a right, to remove you from our country."

The move to revoke student visas has prompted questions about the First Amendment rights of foreign nationals who are green card or visa holders. 

Since the announcement of those initial 300 student visas being revoked, several other universities in the U.S. announced similar situations on their campuses. 

The University of Pennsylvania reported that three international students had their school-sponsored visas terminated. University officials also reported that the terminations did not appear to be connected to the 2024 protests. 

Four University of Michigan students also had their visas revoked by the Department of Homeland Security, according to university officials. 

Three Harvard University students and two recent graduates had their visas revoked, officials reported Sunday. There was no reason given, and school officials said they learned about the immigration status changes during a routine review of records.