International students at Saint Louis University are anxious about the future of their immigration status after the Trump administration revoked over 25 student visas in the St. Louis region this month.
That includes a “small number” of SLU students whose visas were cancelled unexpectedly, SLU spokesperson Clayton Berry confirmed in a statement to The University News.
Students at a number of other universities in the region also had their legal status changed, including at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Webster University and Washington University in St. Louis.
The reasons provided by the federal government for the revocations were “limited” or “unspecific,” Berry said. Local immigration attorneys said federal authorities revoked international students’ visas for “minor offenses” like traffic tickets or “for no reason at all,” according to reporting from the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
Federal immigration agencies did not directly notify SLU about the visa cuts. Rather, students found out on their own by looking at their Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) portal and reporting their status update to the university, Berry said.
A junior studying at SLU through an F-1 visa said the administration’s crackdown on international students is cruel and makes her feel unwelcome. The student requested anonymity out of fear that having her name in the media could make her a target.
“My family and I have put so much money, effort and hope into building a future through education in the U.S.,” the student said. “And now, visas are being revoked with no explanation. It feels like it’s happening at random; no one is telling us anything. That uncertainty is exhausting and deeply unfair.”
Despite this, the university continues to monitor student records on SEVIS and has told affected students to contact the Office of International Services (OIS) for guidance, Berry said.
“OIS is speaking with impacted students on an individual basis to understand each student’s specific circumstances and explain options available to them based on federal law, regulations and guidance,” Berry said.
Before SLU student visas were revoked, the OIS hosted two informational events on April 8 and 9 to provide insights into recent federal law and policy changes for concerned international students.
The junior student said that while the OIS sent emails to international students and is trying to help, she “sometimes feel like the people there (OIS) are somehow unprepared.”
The university saw a sharp decrease in the number of international student enrollment, falling from around 1,300 in 2023-24 to just over 300 in the 2024-25 academic year. This decrease contributed to a $20 million budget deficit, which has forced major program cuts, restructuring and faculty layoffs.
The University News’ Ulaa Kuziez contributed to this report.