The US State Department has revoked more than 6,000 international student visas citing violations of US law and overstays, officials told the BBC. According to the agency, the majority of cases involved criminal offenses such as assault, burglary, and driving under the influence, while 200 to 300 visas were canceled under a statute covering “terrorist activity.” Roughly 4,000 visas were revoked specifically for lawbreaking.
The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on immigration, which has recently put more attention on foreign students. Earlier this year, visa appointments were paused and later restarted with tougher rules, including a requirement for applicants to share their social media accounts to check for signs of hostility toward the US or support for terrorist groups. Critics argue the administration has also used these rules to target students who joined pro-Palestinian protests, labeling their activism as anti-Semitic or a security threat.
As part of efforts to control on-campus activities, the US government has targeted some of the nation's most elite institutions of higher education. Between massive funding cuts and ending the ability to host international students, universities across the US began to panic and to react, particularly those with high foreign student populations.
The US has over 4,000 higher education institutions. Which 30 universities top the list with the highest student populations? This ranking comprises data from 2023. Click on for more.