At least nine international students from the University of Colorado (CU) and Colorado State University (CSU) have had their visas revoked by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to university spokespeople.
CU confirmed that four students across its Boulder and Colorado Springs campuses were affected, while CSU reported five revocations. The students were on F-1 visas, which allow international students to study at U.S. institutions. The reason for the visa revocations remains unclear, and there is no confirmation of whether any of the affected students have been accused of crimes.
Universities Respond
Both CU and CSU have expressed concern over the situation but declined to identify the students, citing privacy protections.
“At CU, we are focused on supporting the success of all of our students, including international students,” a university spokesperson told CBS News Colorado. “We understand the anxieties that visa revocations cause to impacted students and urge any international student with questions or concerns to reach out to their campus’ international student office.”
Other universities in the state, including the Colorado School of Mines, Metropolitan State University, and the University of Denver, reported that none of their students were affected.
Potential Link to Student Protests
The DHS has not provided an official explanation for the Colorado visa revocations, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently confirmed that 300 student visas have been revoked nationwide, many of which were tied to student participation in campus protests.
“If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and tell us you want to participate in movements that involve vandalizing universities, harassing students, or taking over buildings, we’re not going to give you a visa,” Rubio stated last week. He further warned that students found engaging in such activities under false pretenses could face immediate visa revocation and removal from the U.S.
It remains to be seen whether the Colorado students’ cases are connected to this broader crackdown. DHS has not yet responded to requests for comment.
