Hundreds of international students across the country have had their visas revoked by the Trump administration —including two students in the Upstate.
Furman University confirmed in an email this week that two of its students recently had their visas revoked. The university was not ready to provide details about the students or possible reasons for the revocations, said Clinton Colmenares, senior director of news and media strategy.
Nashieli Marcano, Furman University librarian, spoke at a recent rally at Furman University opposing Trump administration policies and activities.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators has been collecting information about reports of students who have had their visas revoked or their records terminated in the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
The organization reports that about 1,400 students and scholars have been affected so far.
According to the report, “There is no clear pattern or trend in terms of nationality of student. Students from all regions of the world are being impacted.”
All types of colleges and universities across the country have been impacted, the report states.
The reasons for the revocations are varied and generally murky, NAFSA reported. “There is still no transparency into the grounds for these revocations, nor is there any clear process for determining what the charges are against the student,” the report alleges. “Due process is woefully absent.”
NAFSA reports that in 2023, there were 6,576 international students enrolled in South Carolina.
It is unclear whether the Trump administration has targeted students at other colleges and universities in the Upstate.
“To my knowledge, we have no issues at this moment,” said Emily Gillespie, communications director at USC Upstate.
According to a university “fast facts” webpage, there are 29 international students at USC Upstate — or about one percent of overall enrollment.
President Trump campaigned successfully in 2024 on an agenda that included tough immigration measures.
According to a USA Today report, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized revoking the visas of students —”lunatics,” he called them — who have taken part in pro-Palestinian protests or activism, even though such activities are widely believed to be protected under the First Amendment.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio sits nearby as President Donald Trump meets with President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador in the Oval Office on April 14, 2025.
“It might be more than 300 at this point. We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas,” Rubio said at a press conference.
The NAFSA report argues that the Trump administration’s current path threatens to make the U.S. less appealing for students whose presence benefits the nation.
International students fuel American innovations, foster cultural exchanges, and enhance our national security by deepening global understanding,” Fanta Aw, NAFSA executive director and chief executive officer, said in the report.
“It is in our national interest to ensure they can continue contributing to our nation’s prosperity and security. International students are the most tracked and vetted visitors to this country. Deterring them from choosing the United States will not make us safer but will certainly deprive us of global talent at a time when competition for these students is increasing around the world.”
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Trump administration yanks visas of two Furman University students
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