As the Donald Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on undocumented immigrants, it has also tightened enforcement against legal residents and international students. This year alone, the administration has canceled over 6,000 student visas, contributing to a total of approximately 40,000 visa cancellations. With immigration authorities aggressively canceling visas of legal residents, including those with valid stay periods, for reasons such as alleged criminal activities or political activism, concerns are growing about the significant impact on universities and local economies, as the number of international students, including those of Korean descent, is expected to decline.

According to Fox News on August 19, the U.S. State Department reported that it has canceled around 6,000 student visas this year for reasons including various legal violations and overstays. Of these, approximately 4,000 were revoked due to violations such as assault, driving under the influence (DUI), burglary, and support for terrorism, the department explained. A senior State Department official stated that about 800 students had their visas canceled due to assault, noting that these individuals were either arrested or faced charges related to assault. Additionally, 200 to 300 visas were revoked for supporting terrorism, specifically citing activities such as fundraising for Hamas, a Palestinian armed group designated as a terrorist organization by the State Department.

The State Department also revealed that a total of around 40,000 visas, including student visas, have been canceled this year—2.5 times higher than the 16,000 visas canceled during the same period under the Biden administration. In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, testifying at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, estimated that thousands of student visas would be canceled. He stated, “We will continue to cancel visas of individuals who, as guests, disrupt higher education in this country.” According to the Open Doors report, over 1.1 million international students from more than 210 countries were enrolled in U.S. universities during the 2023–2024 academic year.

The Trump administration has intensified its scrutiny of student visas. Earlier this year, it temporarily halted student visa issuance before resuming in June, and since then, it has required all visa applicants to submit their social media accounts. According to the Associated Press, the State Department warned that applicants who fail to switch their social media accounts to “public” settings or refuse to comply with reviews may have their visa applications denied. Such refusals could be interpreted as attempts to evade requirements or hide online activities, the department explained. Internal State Department guidelines to consular officers include instructions to “check for evidence of hostility toward American citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.” In June, the administration issued an executive order barring Harvard University from admitting international students, citing the university’s refusal to provide data on students’ illegal activities, which led to legal disputes with the university.

According to CNN, an analysis by the Association of International Educators (NAFSA) predicts that new international student enrollment could drop by 30–40% this fall semester, resulting in a 15% overall enrollment decline. NAFSA warned, “If visa issuance does not significantly recover in July and August, up to 150,000 fewer students may arrive this fall,” adding that “this outcome could lead to a $7 billion reduction in local economic spending and the loss of over 60,000 jobs.”