Updated: April 24, 2025, at 12:46 p.m.
The State Department has canceled or terminated visas for about five current students and five recent graduates, Provost Chris Bracey told the Staff Council on Tuesday.
Bracey said he is aware of “around five” current students who faced “autotermination” or “some sort” of visa cancelation, and believes the number is about the same for graduated students. His announcement at Tuesday’s Staff Council meeting follows GW’s statement last week that the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies terminated a “small number” of students’ visas, amid reports that the State Department has revoked more than 1,800 student visas since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term.
“It’s a small fraction of students,” Bracey said at Tuesday’s meeting.
In a federal update email to community members Thursday, officials said the University is aware of four current students and six recently graduated students that have had their visas terminated by federal agencies. The email directed international students to the International Services Office for guidance and resources.
University President Ellen Granberg said during a Faculty Senate meeting earlier this month that she didn’t know “all the details” about the specific number of students with revoked visas, or why federal agencies rescinded the documents.
Bracey at Tuesday’s Staff Council meeting said the University began monitoring student visa updates earlier this spring to better understand “what’s happening” with international students and faculty. He said the number of students with visas that the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System identified as canceled or “autoterminated” has “remained relatively constant” since the University began tracking visa statuses earlier this spring.
“The number of students that are being impacted at GW has been, thankfully, relatively small, and my understanding is that most of those students who have been impacted have been able to secure counsel who are representing them in their efforts, against the State Department in that regard,” Bracey said.
Bracey said he believes all impacted students have secured legal counsel to represent them against the State Department.
More than 1,800 international students and recent graduates from over 280 universities nationwide have faced visa revocations as of Thursday, according to a Inside Higher Ed tracker. The State Department has revoked visas from students at universities across the country over the past few weeks due to their alleged involvement in campus protests against the war in Gaza.
Members of Jewish Voice for Peace chapters across the D.C. region rallied in front of University Yard on Sunday night before marching to the F Street House to condemn the Trump administration’s targeting of pro-Palestinian students.
Most student visas terminated by the federal government are F-1 and J-1 visas. F-1 visas apply to full-time international students pursuing academic studies, according to USA.gov. J-1 visas are approved for students attending work-study programs, and apply to students research assistants or visiting scholars, according to USA.gov.
Bracey said the graduated students affected had remained in the United States on Optional Practical Training, an employment benefit for students on F-1 visas that allows them to maintain their visa status by temporarily working in their field of study for a period of time in the United States. He said these students also received “some sort” of “autotermination” through the SEVIS system or visa cancellation by the State Department.
Bracey said at a Faculty Senate meeting earlier this month that other university provosts in the Association of American Universities, a prestigious group of 71 leading research universities, reported similar instances on their campuses nationwide.
Seven people at the University of Maryland had their legal status terminated last week, the university confirmed in a statement to the school’s student newspaper, The Diamondback. The University of Virginia announced earlier this month that federal agencies terminated one student’s visa.
Bracey said faculty have asked officials for “better guidance” on how to make international travel easier for faculty. He said he’s also heard of “some” faculty members who have faced challenges reentering the United States after traveling. He said the weekly federal updates now include a provision about travel support.
University spokesperson Julia Garbitt earlier this month said that officials continue to assist students affected by visa terminations and provide immigration and safety information to students and community members. She said the University is aware that the revoked visas have caused “concern and anxiety” within GW’s international community.
“The University continues to encourage community members to take advantage of available mental health and wellness support services, including GW Counseling and Psychological Services for students and the Employee Assistance Program for faculty and staff,” Garbitt said in an email earlier this month.
This post has been updated to reflect the following:
This post has been updated to include information from GW’s weekly federal update email, which officials released on Thursday afternoon.
