SANTA CRUZ — Officials announced this week that the Trump administration terminated the F-1 visas issued to three international UC Santa Cruz students without warning or notice.
UCSC Chancellor Cynthia Larive released a campus-wide message Sunday outlining how the federal government’s actions to terminate the visas ultimately ends the student’s authorization to stay in the United States.
“Late in the week, we learned three UC Santa Cruz students had their records terminated,” Larive said in the statement. “The federal government has not detailed the reasons behind these terminations. We have notified the three students and are in direct contact with them to provide support.”
Larive urged the international student population at UCSC to engage with the International Student Services and Programming office at the university and to review their legal rights just in case they have an encounter with law enforcement. Larive said that students’ well-being is the highest priority and that the university staff will continue to monitor the federal government’s actions.
“We recognize that recent federal immigration actions, whether locally, within the UC system, or across the country, may cause fear and grave concern for many in our campus community,” Larive said. “We reiterate our strong support for all international students and scholars. UC Santa Cruz is enriched by the contributions of our international community members, and we are fortunate to research, teach, and learn with and from such outstanding students and scholars.”
University of California President Michael V. Drake released a message Tuesday stating that he was aware of about 50 students and recent graduates across the UC system that were impacted by the federal government’s actions.
“The government has not coordinated with UC leaders on their decisions or provided advance notice to us, but has indicated in government databases that the terminations were due to violations of the terms of the individuals’ visa programs,” Drake said in the statement. “At this time, we are not aware of any federal law enforcement activity on our campuses.”
Drake echoed Larive’s message that the UC system supports its international students and faculty and that campus leaders are actively assessing the situation.
“Since our founding, international students, scholars and faculty have enriched our excellence in research, teaching, patient care, and public service,” Drake said. “They are integral to our academic and civic life, and vital to breakthroughs that have benefited our community, the country and the world.”