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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today led the Michigan Democratic delegation in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem requesting answers about the sudden and seemingly arbitrary revocations of international students’ visas at universities in Michigan and across the country.

“In the past week, the nation learned that the Trump administration has begun revoking international students’ visas without explanation,” the lawmakers wrote. “In light of these visa revocations, international students are experiencing great anxiety about how the administration’s policies will affect their ability to continue studying at academic institutions across the United States.”

“Academic institutions in Michigan and across the United States are trying their best to address students’ concerns and help impacted students understand required actions, but much remains unclear,” the lawmakers continued. “Students, parents, and academic institutions are trying to understand what appears to be arbitrary decisions to revoke student visas. The timing of this is especially difficult just weeks before the end of the semester, with some students expecting to graduate within the month.”

“Equally perplexing, academic institutions are not receiving any clear guidance from the administration. Universities are only learning of their students’ visas being revoked by checking the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Beyond upending current international students’ studies and lives, we are deeply concerned these revocations are having a chilling effect on international student enrollments.”

The lawmakers requested answers to the following questions within two weeks:

1. What student records are being reviewed by DHS?
2. What specific factors are being considered in the decision to terminate a visa?
3. How are students being notified that their visa is being terminated? Are they receiving information regarding the exact basis of the decision?
4. How much time do impacted students have to understand the implications and determine next steps?
5. What guidance is being given to impacted students? What are their options? Can you outline any appeal processes that are available if a SEVIS record is terminated/a student's visa has been revoked?
6. If a student decides to stay after their visa is terminated, would that constitute unlawful presence and affect their ability to obtain a different visa?
7. How are academic institutions being notified when the visa of an enrolled student is revoked?
8. In the past, revocation of a student’s visa did not result in the termination of a student’s SEVIS record. Why has this changed, and what is the legal basis for terminating a student's SEVIS record when a student's visa has been revoked?
9. Will DHS clarify with principal designated school officials (PDSOs) what the exact basis was for students having their records terminated?
10. Can USCIS clarify the social media vetting announcement vis-a-vis the proposed regulation on social media handle collection (https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-to-begin-screening-aliens-social-media-activity-for-antisemitism)
11. What is the status of state-side visa renewal implementation?
12. Are individual U.S. consulates/embassies able to offer more liberal visa interview waivers than the revised DOS guidance permits?

The letter is signed by every member of the U.S. House Michigan Democratic delegation: Representatives Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), and Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08).

View the full text of the letter here.