The University of Massachusetts Amherst has revealed that five international students enrolled there have had their visas canceled by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Chancellor Javier Reyes mentioned that the institution was not informed of the modifications to the students' visas and only discovered the revocations through routine checks in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database.

This situation is part of a wider pattern, as other universities nationwide, including Arizona State, Cornell, North Carolina State, the University of Oregon, the University of Texas, and the University of Colorado, have reported similar visa cancellations without prior notice.

Earlier this week, Minnesota State University in Mankato also announced that five international students had their visas revoked.

Detentions of multiple university students, such as a Turkish student at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and an Iranian doctoral student at the University of Alabama, have been connected to suspected participation in protests and possible criminal activities.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated that students are being targeted due to their involvement in protests alongside others associated with 'potential criminal activity'.

The Department of Homeland Security has pointed to 'significant national security concerns' regarding some of these incidents.

International students from various nations, including China, Turkey, and Iran, have been impacted by these visa revocations, leading to worries within university communities and raising questions about the criteria used to select which students are affected.