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Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Adam Schiff, both Democrats from California, have condemned recent revocations of international student visas carried out under a Trump-era initiative. The lawmakers said the program, known as “Catch and Revoke,” unlawfully targets students based on their political beliefs and social media activity, threatening their freedom of expression and due process rights.
In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the legislators criticized the State Department’s use of artificial intelligence to monitor student visa holders’ online presence. The AI-driven surveillance reportedly led to the cancellation of hundreds of student visas and the termination of Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records for many students in California.
“These visa revocations and record terminations represent an unprecedented and unconstitutional assault on freedom of thought and expression, impacting international and U.S. students alike,” the lawmakers wrote. They demanded an immediate halt to the surveillance program and full transparency about the criteria being used to revoke visas.
Padilla and Schiff also raised alarms about ICE actions, including detaining students at universities, airports, and even their homes—often without warning or the opportunity to seek legal representation. Many of these arrests, the letter claims, were based on vague or previously disclosed information from students’ visa applications, such as social media posts or participation in peaceful protests.
“If true, these practices represent not only an overreach of immigration enforcement but also a violation of First Amendment rights,” the Senators stated.
Although the Department of Justice recently reversed the SEVIS record terminations, the broader visa revocations continue under the Catch and Revoke initiative. The letter emphasized the chilling effect this has had on international students across the country, especially in California.
The lawmakers argue that the surveillance initiative suppresses lawful political expression and intimidates international students, particularly those who are politically active. “Without transparency or independent oversight, the risk of abuse grows,” they wrote, warning that immigration authorities, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), are now expanding such scrutiny beyond student visa holders to other noncitizen populations.
Padilla and Schiff also highlighted the economic and academic contributions of international students in California and nationwide. California alone hosts over 140,000 international students, who contribute approximately $6.4 billion annually to the state’s economy and support more than 55,000 jobs.
“California’s higher education institutions are a global benchmark,” the letter stated. “These universities not only transform lives through education but also fuel economic growth. Attacks on these institutions and their international student populations jeopardize America’s competitiveness and innovation potential.”
In 2021, Padilla led a group of 23 senators urging the State Department to address a backlog in student visa processing. The following year, he chaired a Senate hearing focused on the intersection of higher education, immigration, and economic development.
Padilla and Schiff, along with 34 other Senate Democrats, are now urging the Biden administration to formally end the Catch and Revoke program, reinstate revoked visas, and ensure that immigration enforcement is not weaponized to suppress dissent.
“Immigration policy should not be used as a tool to police speech,” the lawmakers concluded. “Restoring trust in our educational institutions and immigration system requires immediate corrective action.”
