Six NMSU students had visas revoked under Trump administration policy

University confirms it is aware of six cases but is limited in what it can share due to federal privacy laws

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - New Mexico State University officials confirmed Tuesday that six students at the university had their visas revoked by the federal government under the Trump administration.

Amanda Bradford, NMSU’s director of communications and media relations, said in a brief statement that the university is “aware at this time of six individuals who have had their visas revoked by the federal administration.”

She said NMSU could not release any additional information about the individuals due to privacy restrictions under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA.

While details remain unclear locally, similar cases are being reported at colleges and universities across the country. Schools including Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, Michigan and Ohio State have documented recent revocations of student visas — often with little warning or explanation from federal authorities. A report from the Associated Press outlines growing concerns among higher education officials about the trend.

In Utah, The Salt Lake Tribune reported that at least 17 international students and recent graduates at the University of Utah had their visas revoked, receiving letters from federal immigration authorities instructing them to immediately “self-deport.”

Two international students in California have filed lawsuits against the federal government, claiming their visas were revoked unjustly and without due process. KQED reports that the students, both of whom were pursuing STEM degrees, had no prior immigration violations.

The policy has raised alarms in academic circles. According to Inside Higher Ed, immigration experts and university leaders worry the revocations could have a chilling effect on international enrollment and undermine academic freedom.

Bradford said that no NMSU students have been disenrolled as a result of their visa revocations.

Organ Mountain News has requested additional information about the NMSU cases and will continue to follow the story as it develops.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. He can be reached at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or on X at @damienwillis.