The Trump administration has canceled the F-1 visas of 18 students from Florida International University (FIU) as part of an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This development has stirred significant concern within the university community following the implementation of a joint program between FIU and immigration authorities.
Between March 25 and April 10, 2025, the visas were revoked. Among these students, 11 are currently enrolled, while the remaining seven are recent graduates. This situation has heightened tensions within the educational community, as all affected individuals now face uncertainty regarding their legal status in the United States.
The revocation is tied to an agreement between FIU and ICE that allows campus police to receive training to enforce immigration laws. This new agreement is part of the 287(g) program, which grants officers the authority to detain, question, and, in some cases, arrest individuals suspected of being undocumented immigrants.
Although specific reasons for the visa cancellations have not been disclosed, the Trump administration has escalated immigration enforcement actions on university campuses as part of a broader effort to strengthen national immigration policies. According to data from the institution, over 700 students and recent graduates nationwide have experienced changes in their legal status since the State Department began implementing these measures.
Jeanette Nunez, the president of FIU and a former lieutenant governor of Florida, discussed the political context leading to changes in university policies. In a recent interview with Local 10, Nunez emphasized the university’s responsibility to provide education to students while prioritizing resources for the state’s legal residents. "We must ensure we have enough capacity and seats for our legal residents of Florida," Nunez remarked, addressing the growing pressure on state universities to manage access to higher education amid the presence of international students.
This shift has sparked intense debate on immigration and its impact on U.S. educational institutions. Immigrant rights advocates express concerns about using campuses as immigration checkpoints, which may foster an environment of fear and mistrust among foreign students, who comprise a substantial portion of the university community.
Recently, the deportation of a Florida International University student after a traffic stop brought this issue to the forefront. Felipe Zapata Velázquez, a 27-year-old Colombian national, was deported following his detention by ICE after a traffic violation in Gainesville. Zapata, a third-year student in Food and Resource Economics at FIU's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, was arrested on March 28 despite holding a valid F-1 student visa.
Claudia Velázquez, his mother, explained that her son was in the process of updating his I-20 form to renew his license and had already paid the necessary fines. However, after resolving the matter at the police station, ICE agents intercepted and informed him that due to the infraction on his record, he would be taken into custody. He was subsequently transferred to Jacksonville and then to the Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade, where, according to his mother, he was pressured to sign a voluntary departure agreement without legal representation.
Florida Democratic Congressman Maxwell Frost condemned the incident as "government kidnapping." "Felipe Zapata Velásquez is just the latest victim of Trump's vile campaign against immigrants. What should have been a routine traffic stop turned into a nightmare," he stated. Previously, Florida State Representative Yvonne Hinson, a Democrat, questioned Zapata's detention, arguing that a mere traffic violation does not warrant such harsh measures. "Immigrants are under attack now more than ever," she asserted.
Key Questions on Visa Cancellation and Campus Immigration Enforcement
Why were the visas of FIU students canceled?
The visas were canceled as part of an agreement between FIU and ICE, which is linked to the 287(g) program allowing campus police to enforce immigration laws. Specific reasons for the cancellations have not been disclosed.
What is the 287(g) program?
The 287(g) program is an initiative that allows local law enforcement officers to collaborate with ICE by receiving training to enforce federal immigration laws, including the authority to detain and question individuals suspected of being undocumented immigrants.
How has the FIU community reacted to the visa cancellations?
The community has expressed significant concern and tension, as students face uncertainty about their legal status in the U.S. The situation has sparked debate over immigration enforcement on campuses and its impact on educational institutions.