Visa Abuse and Fraud Schemes
The government’s case isn’t built solely on espionage allegations.
Fraudulent employment scams have also plagued the student visa system. Notably, Findream LLC, a fake company run by a Chinese national, falsely certified employment for nearly 2,700 Chinese students under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. These fraudulent verifications allowed them to extend their stay in the U.S., violating immigration policy.
This recent surge in student visa revocations underscores the administration’s resolve to prevent such abuses from persisting. These enforcement measures are not without precedent; in 2020, during Trump’s first term, Presidential Proclamation 10043 led to the revocation of over 1,000 visas belonging to Chinese nationals associated with universities involved in China’s military-civil fusion strategy. The goal was to curb the transfer of advanced U.S. technologies into Chinese military applications.
Homeland Security Tightens the Screws
What’s unique about the current wave of visa cancellations is the method.
Unlike in previous years, where visa status changes required input from the university, immigration officials are now terminating statuses directly based on findings from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Students are discovering their visa terminations through automated notices or emails, often without warning—or recourse.
Some students have attempted to appeal the cancellations, but doing so may place them in greater legal jeopardy – once legal status is revoked, students who remain in the country do so illegally. Federal officials have warned that helping any individual in the U.S. evade removal or ICE detention may lead to criminal prosecution.
