Claremont Students’ Visas Terminated, Forced to Leave United States

Image via Flickr. Copyright Adam Jones.

President Trump’s promise to deport international students at American colleges and universities has reached Claremont. In the past few weeks, several students from Claremont Graduate University and at least one from Claremont McKenna College have seen their visas revoked. The student from CMC has also left the country. 

Tim Lynch, Director of Executive and Advancement Communications at Claremont Graduate University, confirmed that the visas of several international students have been revoked. He was not able to disclose how many or any identifying details “out of respect for their privacy.” However, he noted that “they come from more than one nation and that they are in an array of programs.” 

Regarding the students’ academic status, Lynch noted that CGU is “advising them academically because their status as students with us is unchanged.” When asked whether any of the students have left the country and, if so, whether they plan to continue taking classes remotely, Lynch responded: “I cannot confirm the former, so I cannot confirm the latter.”

He also wrote that CGU officials have not been contacted by any federal agencies and have not heard of anyone else on campus being contacted other than the affected students.

The CMC student was ordered to depart the country following the termination of his student visa. He had been arrested for a misdemeanor offense in another state earlier this semester, though charges against him were dropped. Out of concern for his pending immigration status, the student declined to comment, but it is confirmed that he left the country last weekend. 

When asked for comment on the CMC student’s case, a State Department spokesperson told the Independent, “Due to privacy and other considerations, and visa confidentiality, we generally will not comment on Department actions with respect to specific cases.” The Community Relations division of the Los Angeles Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office did not respond to a request for comment. 

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information emerges.