Ten international students at Utah Tech University are among the nearly 300 university students across the United States who have had their student visas revoked—and face the possibility of deportation.
The Department of Homeland Security began revoking Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status forms, known as I-20s, through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. Once an I-20 has been revoked, a student’s lawful status in the U.S. is terminated. Students were given 15 days to get their affairs in order and leave the U.S.
If they are still in the country after the 15-day period, they are liable to be detained and deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
On April 9, Utah Tech released an official update.
“At this time, 10 Utah Tech international students have had their I-20s canceled. These students have received information and support from our International Programs office. Please note that the cancellation of an I-20 is a different process than deportation and no UT students have been detained or deported at this time,” the update said.
Utah Tech students were notified of their I-20 revocation by email from Shadman Bashir, the executive director of international programs. In the email, students were told no further information other than the fact that the individual had been identified in a criminal records check and or had their visas revoked.
The email said Utah Tech’s Office of International Programs was working with academic leadership to provide support in their capacity. They urged students to meet with the Office of International Programs to receive support and discuss next steps and their enrollment at Utah Tech.
“It came as a surprise,” Bashir said. “It is highly unusual. It has never happened before; that’s why it becomes such a concern for institutions, and when we reach out to our resources within the government, Homeland Security, they could not share any more information with us because things are happening so fast; things are not clear.”
Utah Tech isn’t the only school in Utah being impacted. Eighteen students from the University of Utah were notified their I-20s had been revoked, and The University of Nevada, Las Vegas has had four I-20s revoked.
The lack of information and guidance is concerning to international students, not just the ones whose I-20s were revoked.
“I’m just a little scared,” an anonymous international student from Utah Tech said, out of fear of retaliation. “It kind of feels like the beginning of something, you know what I’m saying. It starts with this, but we don’t know what comes next.”
Four international students who were contacted as sources chose to decline, citing reasons like fear and anxiety about the state of their futures and citizen status in the U.S.
Several students around the country said they were detained and had their visas revoked due to speaking out about political issues, particularly Gaza. At this time, zero Utah Tech students have been confirmed to have their I-20s revoked due to political involvement, but the Utah Tech Office of International Programs advised their students to be conscious and careful about what they post online.
Miki Akiyama, a senior marketing major from Tokyo, is one of the students whose I-20 was revoked. Akiyama has been in the U.S. for the past seven years.
Akiyama was charged with a misdemeanor in December 2023. After the incident, she hired a lawyer, carried out her court dates and paid the fines associated with the charge.
On April 7, she received notice that her I-20 had been revoked and she would need to leave the country.
“I’m really sad and afraid,” she said. “I was doing it all legally. We have to take a lot of steps, get an agent, do everything and now they’re just canceling it.”
For Akiyama, this issue isn’t just about leaving the home she’s built in Utah. It’s about whether or not she wasted six years and thousands of dollars at Utah Tech.
“They’re saying that they will make sure that I can graduate so no worries,” she said. “But it’s just something that they’re saying.”
The update given by Utah Tech said, “Staff in the University’s Office of International Programs are offering support and resources to affected students, helping them follow federal laws and regulations, and working with Academic Affairs to help impacted students.”
For international students concerned about the status of their I-20s, you can visit the Office of International Programs in the Student Activity Center. The Booth Wellness Center offers counseling for those experiencing emotional turmoil.
UPDATE: On April 16 at 3 p.m., there will be a student-led conversation at the Gardner Student Center ballroom on supporting Utah Tech’s international community. This will include raising funds for students who’ve had their I-20s revoked.
