Stanford Alumni Rally Against Visa Bans

Hundreds call for university to lead fight for international students’ rights.

In a powerful show of solidarity, 244 Stanford University alumni have penned an open letter to President Jonathan Levin, demanding immediate action to support international students and recent graduates affected by the Trump administration’s recent revocation of student visas. The letter, dated April 8, cites the abrupt cancellation of visas for four current Stanford students and two recent graduates, calling on the university to take a stand against what the signatories describe as an attack on academic freedom and diversity.

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The alumni, representing a broad spectrum of class years, programs, and backgrounds, expressed alarm over the growing climate of fear and uncertainty on campus. They emphasized the integral role international students play in Stanford’s academic and cultural fabric. “We would not be who we are today without them,” the letter states, highlighting how international students enrich class discussions, spur innovation, and forge lifelong bonds.

The letter outlines a six-point action plan, urging Stanford to issue a public statement pledging to protect affected students, maintain their enrollment despite visa complications, and provide legal and psychosocial support. It also calls for safeguarding student privacy and collaborating with other universities to challenge the visa revocations collectively.

“We cannot, in good faith, continue to collaborate with the university, make gifts to it, or encourage young talent to enroll without receiving a clear and unequivocal response,” the alumni wrote, signaling potential consequences for Stanford’s alumni relations if the administration does not act decisively.

Stanford’s Office of International Affairs has been monitoring the visa revocations, with updates posted on its website, immigration.stanford.edu. According to the site, the university is working to clarify the status of affected students and provide resources for those navigating immigration challenges. Stanford’s undergraduate admissions page for international students underscores its commitment to a diverse student body, noting that international applicants are evaluated under the same rigorous standards as domestic candidates.

The visa revocations come amid broader concerns about immigration policy changes under the Trump administration, which have sparked anxiety at universities nationwide. Stanford has yet to issue a formal response to the alumni letter, but pressure is mounting for the administration to address the crisis.

As of now, no official statement from President Levin has been released. The university’s next steps could set a precedent for how elite institutions navigate the intersection of immigration policy and academic freedom in an increasingly polarized climate.

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Read the letter here

April 8, 2025

Dear President Levin:

We are writing to you today with urgent alarm following news that the Trump administration has revoked the student visas of four Stanford University students and two recent graduates.

As alumni from across class year, program, and background, we could not agree more that “international students are an integral part of [the Stanford University] student body and [that they] contribute to a dynamic environment in which to learn and live.” Stanford’s diverse student body is why we chose Stanford, and as students ourselves, we saw firsthand how international students made our class discussions richer, exposed us to new ideas that sparked creativity and innovation, and became lifelong friends who we have laughed with, loved, and grown alongside. In the simplest of terms, we would not be who we are today without them.

As news of visa revocations spread across the United States, students are left afraid, anxious, and unable to learn. In the face of this, universities are being asked whether they will take clear and decisive action to protect their students. As Stanford students, our professors, teaching assistants, and guidance counselors prepared us for a life of leadership and service. This moment begs of you to embody those same values.

We write to you with the following action plan and we ask that you:

• Issue a public statement reassuring the Stanford community that every effort will be made to protect students.

• Ensure that international students who have been impacted by visa revocations remain enrolled. As you are well aware, SEVIS terminations do not necessitate unenrollment.

• Facilitate legal and immigration support for students impacted by visa revocations, and when possible, collaborate with their legal teams to offer declarations in support of impacted students.

• Protect the privacy of all students and commit not to provide information on students to any requesting agency unless legally mandated or subpoenaed.

• Organize legal, psychosocial, and digital and physical safety support for students, faculty, and staff amid this climate of anxiety and fear on campus.

• Join universities across the United States in collective public and private action to challenge visa revocations and attacks on academic freedom.

As Stanford alumni, we are deeply proud of the world-class education that we have been privileged to receive. This same sense of pride brings with it a deep sense of responsibility.

We cannot, in good faith, continue to collaborate with the university, make gifts to it, and encourage young talent to enroll without receiving a clear and unequivocal response from you that Stanford University will meet this moment with the moral clarity that it necessitates.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

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