For more than a century, the US has drawn some of India’s brightest minds in pursuit of world-class education. From BR Ambedkar, who went on to draft India’s Constitution, to business titans like Mukesh Ambani and Azim Premji, American universities have helped shape generations of Indian thinkers, builders, and changemakers. Today, however, under the Trump administration’s immigration policies, that legacy is being threatened.
In recent weeks, reports from US campuses sent a chill through the Indian student community. However, a few days ago, the Administration announced it was reversing course and restoring the visa registrations of foreign students in the United States.
As per reports, thousands of international students on F-1 visas had been detained, deported, or denied re-entry for seemingly minor infractions. According to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the records of thousands international students had been terminated. Half of these students were estimated to be Indian nationals.
The reasons for these terminations ranged from immigration violations to allegations of advocating pro-Hamas positions.
It appears though the majority of the cases stemmed from interactions with law enforcement. Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations at AILA, told CNN-News18 last week, “Many of the so-called crimes they were charged with or picked up for are things that everyday Americans wouldn’t even consider crimes, and certainly not college students.”
In certain instances, students were deported for traffic offences, including speeding, sometimes just five to ten miles over the limit.
Most of the students impacted, according to reports, are from Asia, West Asia, or Africa, with Indian students making up the majority of them.
This is not surprising since nearly 30% of all international students enrolled in US universities are Indian nationals
According to the Open Doors analysis, of the approximately 1.13 million international students on F-1 visas during the 2023–2024 academic year, nearly 332,000 were from India.
A recent AILA review of 327 visa revocation cases revealed that 60% involved Indian students. This disproportionate representation of Indian students has been troubling.
It is quite possible that a significant number of Indian students will choose to stay home or seek opportunities in countries more welcoming to international talent.
That would not only be a loss for the students, but a setback for the US as well.
To grasp the gravity of the current crackdown, one needs to look no further than the US tech industry.
Two of the most influential and consequential companies in the world — Microsoft and Google — are led by former F-1 visa holders: Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai.
In addition, tens of thousands of former international students now occupy leadership roles across the American economy, from senior engineers and startup founders to university presidents and deans, strengthening institutions that help define the nation’s global edge.
The crackdown would not only have intellectual costs. It would also have economic costs for the US. International students contribute substantially to the US economy.
According to research by NAFSA: Association of International Educators, these students added $43.8 billion to the US economy in the 2023–2024 academic year and supported 378,175 jobs across the country. Indian students alone might be contributing more than $10 billion annually to the US economy through tuition, housing, and living expenses.
Universities themselves are feeling the strain. Even before this latest crackdown, enrollment of Indian students in US universities had begun to decline due to tightening visa rules, hostile rhetoric, and rising costs.
Now, as stories of raids, detentions, and revocations circulate across WhatsApp groups and social media forums, this damage is accelerating.
With alternatives like Europe and Australia increasingly seen as safer bets, the US is losing its reputation as a welcoming destination for international talent.
Sadly, for the US, this moment transcends universities. At stake is nothing less than America’s identity.
Historically, this immigrant nation — as John F Kennedy referred to the US — has flourished because of its openness to embracing immigrants of all types including the world’s dreamers, scholars, and builders.
Unless the crackdown is totally stopped, America could pay an enormous cost for this. The trust broken in classrooms today may take decades to repair.
