Johns Hopkins Reels as 37 International Students Lose Visas in Trump Administration Crackdown

Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore confirmed on April 16, 2025, that 37 international students, including graduate students and recent graduates, have had their visas revoked by the federal government, according to CBS Baltimore. The abrupt terminations, part of a broader Trump administration immigration crackdown, have sparked alarm across Maryland's higher education institutions, with no clear explanation provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The visa revocations are linked to a nationwide wave of enforcement actions, with at least 901 international students across 128 colleges and universities losing their legal status since mid-March 2025, as reported by the Associated Press. Many cases appear tied to participation in pro-Palestinian protests, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) using data analytics to review students' social media activity and criminal records for grounds to terminate visas.

Johns Hopkins, where 15% of the first-year class comprises international students from 83 countries, stated it has "no information about the specific basis for the revocations" but noted no indication they are tied to free expression on campus. The university's Office of International Services is providing support, including legal counsel and academic advising, to affected students, who must now leave the United States. No arrests or detentions of Hopkins students have been reported.

The situation escalated rapidly. On April 8, Hopkins reported "approximately a dozen" visa revocations, a number that grew to "several dozen" by April 11 and was finalized at 37 by April 16, according to The Baltimore Banner. The university shared updates via a livestream accessible only to those with a Johns Hopkins email, reflecting the sensitivity of the crisis.

Maryland's other institutions are also affected. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) reported four students losing visas, while the University of Maryland, College Park, confirmed an unspecified number of cases. Three Maryland institutions—UMBC, UMD, and the University System of Maryland—signed an amicus brief on April 10 supporting a legal injunction to halt the Trump administration's visa revocations without cause. Notably, Johns Hopkins did not join the brief, drawing criticism from some community members.

The crackdown, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, targets students deemed to act "counter to national interests," often citing minor infractions like past misdemeanors or involvement in protests against Israel's war in Gaza. Immigration attorneys report a lack of transparency, with universities like Hopkins learning of revocations through routine Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) reviews rather than direct DHS communication.

Faculty and students are pushing back. Teachers and Researchers United (TRU-UE), Hopkins' graduate student union, condemned the revocations and called for continued advocacy, stating, "We do not allow fear to demobilize our movements at a moment when so much is at stake." The university has advised faculty not to intervene if ICE agents appear on campus, aligning with American Civil Liberties Union guidelines.

The visa terminations threaten Johns Hopkins' global reputation and academic diversity, with broader implications for U.S. higher education. As affected students face deportation, the university's response—and the administration's ongoing enforcement—will shape the future of international education in America.