Title: Rising Alarm Over Student Visa Revocations: A Saudi Student Case at NC State Mirrors Wider Clampdown
Recently, troubling reports have surfaced about a concerning pattern impacting international students at U.S. universities: the sudden cancellation of student visas without any prior notice or explanation. One of the most recent instances features a chemical engineering graduate student from Saudi Arabia at North Carolina State University (NCSU), whose visa was withdrawn along with that of another Saudi student, Saleh Al Gurad, who is enrolled in a master’s program in engineering management at the same school.
The two students learned in late March that their student visas had been abruptly annulled by the U.S. State Department. NCSU officials acknowledged they became aware of this action only on March 27—the very day the students received their notifications. Within a matter of days, both students booked one-way tickets and returned to Saudi Arabia, leaving classmates and faculty in shock.
Absence of Clarity Raises Alarm
The particularly distressing aspect of these cases is the total lack of explanation from either U.S. immigration authorities or the university regarding the reasons the students were singled out. Philip Vasto, Al Gurad’s roommate and a chemical engineering undergraduate at NCSU, noted that neither he nor the impacted students have received any formal justification. Significantly, Vasto points out that Al Gurad had not engaged in political protests or shared controversial posts on social media, which are often speculated as potential triggers in such circumstances.
Al Gurad has reportedly now chosen not to return to finish his studies in the U.S., even if granted permission in the future. “He feels neither safe nor welcome anymore,” said Vasto, who expressed his concerns in NCSU’s student newspaper. “This issue transcends just one or two students—it highlights a broader message: that this country may no longer be a secure refuge for international scholars.”
A Wider Trend Unfolds
These occurrences are far from isolated. They are part of a larger context of governmental messaging and policy changes that have alarmed civil rights advocates and academic circles. Around the same time the two NCSU students were compelled to depart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that over 300 student visas had been cancelled, characterizing the action as part of a national initiative to combat what he termed “anti-American activism” in higher education. While Rubio cited issues of security, critics contend that the opacity and absence of due process bring significant concerns to the policy.
Civil rights organizations warn that the actual figure of visa cancellations may be higher than what is officially reported. “This is creating a chilling atmosphere on university campuses,” states a senior fellow at a Washington-based immigration think tank. “Students are apprehensive about expressing their views or participating in academic discussion, fearing they may be unjustly targeted.”
Heightened Social Media Monitoring
The federal government escalated its position on April 9, when the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) declared it would commence monitoring the social media activities of visa and green card applicants. Posts identified as antisemitic will now serve as grounds for visa denials, impacting prospective students and foreign nationals linked to educational institutions that have been accused of endorsing antisemitic behavior.
Although the government presents this as a measure to protect against hate speech and discrimination, civil liberties advocates worry that such policies may be employed to rationalize biased and potentially discriminatory actions against foreign nationals who have not violated any laws or regulations.
Consequences for Academia and Global Image
The repercussions of these developments are beginning to reverberate throughout the U.S. academic environment. Vasto, who is set to graduate in May, mentions that the incident has caused him to reconsider a career in academia. “Many young professionals like myself are reevaluating their futures. The impression being conveyed is that international collaboration and freedom of expression are at risk.”
Higher education institutions nationwide share similar concerns. Universities heavily depend on international students for cultural diversity and academic funding. Unjustified visa cancellations could dissuade top-notch talent from choosing to study in the United States, steering them to countries viewed as more hospitable.
What Lies Ahead?
As the global race for talent intensifies, the United States risks undermining its standing as a leader in higher education. These sudden visa cancellations occur at a time when other nations—such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia—are actively seeking to attract international students by streamlining immigration processes and ensuring transparent, rule-based systems.
For now, impacted students like Al Gurad find themselves in limbo, without explanations or obvious channels for appeal. Meanwhile, U.S. universities and their students struggle with the unpredictability and potential long-term consequences of an increasingly opaque visa system.
As Vasto sums up, “We’re taught that America embodies freedom of thought, learning, and opportunity. These actions convey a very different narrative.”