Alabama college says 2 international students have lost ability to study in US

Two international students at Troy University have lost their ability to study in Alabama.

The school said the students’ I-20 status has been terminated, which means they are “out of status” and typically must leave the United Stats. The school said it does not know the status of the students’ visas but will continue to keep other international students and staff on campus informed about federal guidelines.

“We support immigration policies that enhance our nation’s security, while also recognizing the important contributions international students make to our society—whether in business, medicine, research, or other critical fields,” said Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. in a statement.

In 2023, the school accepted 140 international students in addition to the 218 that were already enrolled, according to its website.

The school joins several other Alabama universities whose international students and staff have lost permission to continue their education or work. At Auburn University, 15 people lost their visas, according to a statement from the school last week.

“Our international students and personnel are valued members of our campus community, and we recognize the significant impact that visa or status revocation will have on them,” a spokeswoman for the school said, adding that the university is helping the students navigate the change.

Alireza Doroudi, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama who is from Iran, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last month. The reason for his detention has not been made public. He was denied bond by an immigration judge in Louisiana last Thursday.

A spokesperson for the University of South Alabama said the school has not yet received any inquiries or information from the government about any of its international students studying on a visa.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Montevallo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

About 1,000 international students have lost their visas as a part of the Trump administration’s plans to deal with antisemitism and immigration, according to an analysis done by Inside Higher Ed.