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Padilla, Schiff Condemn Student Visa Revocations

May 28, 2025

Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff have issued a formal complaint against the Trump Administration for revoking international student visas through questionable surveillance methods. In their letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, they specifically criticized ICE's termination of California students' records and the State Department's "Catch and Revoke" initiative that uses AI to monitor students' social media activity. The Senators described these actions as unconstitutional violations of First Amendment rights, noting cases where students were detained without proper legal notice.

Who is affected

  • International students in California and across the U.S.
  • California's 140,000 international students specifically mentioned in the article
  • Educational institutions hosting international students
  • The U.S. economy, which receives $6.4 billion from international students in California
  • The 55,000+ jobs supported by international students in California

What action is being taken

  • Senators Padilla and Schiff are formally condemning the visa revocations in a letter to Secretary Rubio and Secretary Noem
  • ICE is terminating California students' SEVIS records
  • The State Department is running the "Catch and Revoke" AI-powered initiative to monitor international students' social media
  • ICE is detaining students at campuses and homes without legal notice
  • The Senators are urging an immediate halt to the surveillance program, restoration of revoked visas, and full transparency

Why it matters

  • The visa revocations allegedly violate students' constitutional rights to due process and First Amendment protections
  • California's international students contribute $6.4 billion to the U.S. economy and support over 55,000 jobs
  • Educational institutions described as "beacons of opportunity" are being undermined
  • The actions threaten America's global leadership in science, research, and innovation
  • The surveillance program represents what the Senators call "unprecedented and unconstitutional attacks on freedom of thought and expression"

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint