Hundreds of foreign students studying in the US have suddenly received an email informing them that their F-1 visa i.e. student visa has been cancelled. This email has been sent by the US State Department (DoS) in the last week of March.
This email has been sent to those students who are involved in campus activism i.e. demonstrations held on campus. According to reports, such emails have also been sent to those students who were not involved in campus activism but shared, liked or commented on ‘anti-Israel’ posts on social media.
The mail states that the students’ F-1 visas have been cancelled. The students have been asked to deport themselves, i.e., leave the US. They have also been warned that if they do not do so, they will face legal action.
The US government is identifying such students with the help of the ‘Catch and Revoke’ app. According to Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, till March 26, F-1 visas of more than 300 ‘Hamas supporters’ students have been cancelled. Many Indian students are also included in this.