International Students Kicked Out of US for Parking Violations

Nearly 40 international students in the United States have had their visas abruptly revoked due to minor traffic offenses, sparking widespread panic and criticism from immigration advocates.

The move, which affected students from over 50 universities including Stanford, UCLA, Ohio State, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, appears to be part of a broader immigration clampdown under the Trump administration. According to The Guardian UK, students learned about their visa terminations via unexpected emails from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, notifying them that their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records had been terminated.

One of the students, Lisa, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was just weeks away from graduation when she received the email. The reason: two traffic tickets issued the previous year, for which she had already appeared in court and was fingerprinted.

Under U.S. immigration law, a terminated SEVIS record means a student is immediately considered “out of status” and has only 15 days to leave the country. Failure to do so could lead to deportation or a multi-year ban from re-entering the U.S.

Most of the infractions involved minor or already-dismissed charges, including expired licenses or unpaid tickets. Yet, students received termination letters labeling them as having “criminal records.” Many of the decisions reportedly stemmed from automated screenings that failed to distinguish between minor civil infractions and criminal convictions.

“This sweeping action is deeply concerning,” said immigration attorney Shenqi Cai. “Most of these students were never convicted of any crime, and fingerprinting alone should not trigger such a harsh penalty.”

The visa terminations followed a public statement by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on March 27, in which he declared his intent to crack down on student visa holders. “Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas,” Rubio said, citing national security concerns.

Immigration lawyers and school administrators have scrambled to respond. Over 300 affected students joined an emergency Zoom call with federal immigration lawyer Brad Banias, who criticized the move as political, not legal. “They’re criminalizing parking tickets,” Banias said.

The fallout has left students in limbo. Some, like a Chinese student named David on Optional Practical Training (OPT), lost their jobs and are rushing to leave the U.S. Others, like Bill—who received a traffic ticket for driving with an expired license—face legal contradictions. Bill must attend court but risks detention if he stays.

With limited school support and high legal costs, many students feel abandoned. “Worst case, I don’t graduate. I go home and start college again. Four more years. And then what?” Lisa said.

Experts warn that beyond the personal impact on students, the move sends a chilling message about the U.S. government’s current stance on immigration enforcement in academic spaces.