Photo courtesy of WFMJ.
In a turn of events this week, the two SAU international students whose immigration records that had been terminated have now been reinstated. According to the Moline Dispatch/Rock Island Argus and local TV news reports, students were among a total of five students at both SAU and Augustana who had visas unexpectedly terminated, an event also first disclosed in an email from University President Amy Novak.
“Honestly, the situation toward international aliens and immigrants is complicated, and this creates a lot of tension in our lives, specifically it feels like we are not welcomed anymore,” said one senior international student who did not want to use their name.
“Besides this, plans I had before about staying around the U.S. after graduation have been re-evaluated because I would not enjoy being in a place I am not wanted.”
Recent events have sent shockwaves through the campus community. With little warning and few answers, the students were suddenly thrust into legal uncertainty, leaving them, and many of their peers, fearful about what could happen next.
SAU International Student Advisor Ricki Grover confirmed that there are currently 77 international students studying at the school. Each one carrying not just a student ID, but a complex story, a dream, and often, the hope of their family back home. For many, the United States stood for a chance to build a better future. Now, that future feels uncertain.
Another senior international student, who shares this fear, said, “It’s definitely something that runs through my mind everyday. It’s very tiring to not know what your future is going to look like.”
That sense of fear and uncertainty is widespread. Many international students are now questioning their future, feeling the weight of an unpredictable system. As anxiety rises, so does concern over what this means for the future of international education at St. Ambrose and beyond.
“We’re not changing admissions right now,” Grover added. “But we’re seeing the morale shift. Interest in studying in the U.S. has been going down for months.”
This shift in morale is clear across campus, where the news of the terminations has quickly spread. It has unsettled the tight-knit international community and raised urgent questions: Who is next? Why is this happening? What can be done?
SAU’s Response
According to Grover, the two terminations were discovered not through an official warning, but through a check of the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS. The students’ statuses were simply listed as “terminated,” triggering the university to respond quickly.
“We notified the students as soon as possible through an in-person meeting followed by a letter outlining the situation,” said Grover. “We directed the students to the American Immigration Lawyers Association website for assistance in finding legal support should they want it.
“The Deans of the various colleges were notified, and we immediately began looking for a solution to the academic side of things. We were able to offer the students Incomplete Grades (I-Grades) for the remainder of the semester with the opportunity to finish course work over the summer online.
“We were also able to offer financial support to the students through the Student Emergency Fund. Both students applied for and were granted funds to be used towards the unexpected costs associated with the termination.”
Not only did SAU aid the two students who faced record termination, they also offered support to the international student population as a whole.
“We held an Open Forum meeting where President Amy Novak and I presented on the issue. Students were able to ask questions in an open setting or one-on-one following the presentation,” explained Grover.
In that same meeting, the school announced an offer for discounted summer housing to any international student that wished to remain on-campus throughout the summer.
In addition to the Open Forum meeting, President Amy Novak addressed the campus in an email, stating, “As a university, we are deeply concerned by the seemingly arbitrary nature of this policy and its implementation. I want to personally assure you that I am engaging with legislative leaders to voice our concerns and advocate for greater clarity, fairness, and compassion in how these matters are handled.”
A System Students Say Feels Random and Unfair
The exact reason for the SEVIS record terminations remains unclear. Early federal messaging from the Trump administration had suggested that changes targeted individuals involved in protests or antisemitic activity. But as President Novak explained, “it now appears that past, minor infractions with the law may be triggering these notifications.”
That shift, from political action to vague infractions, has left international students feeling like they are walking a tightrope. One misstep, even from years ago, might be enough to upend everything.
“With the new administration and the recent actions taken, I am not sure what to expect,” said the senior international student. “I am graduating this May, and it seems that everything is harder now.
“My parents are concerned if I am going to be able to get my VISA and even work here after my college career is over.”
Another senior international student echoes the same concerns, saying, “It creates a big bump on our everyday’s lives.
“It is okay for us as humans to make mistakes, but during these times those little mistakes could cost us our status as students in the US. These create an extra concern in our lives.”
Above: Map of the schools that have reported student visas being terminated. Photo courtesy of Inside Higher Ed analysis, Ashley Mowreader/Inside Higher Ed, Anika Anora Seth.
Status Explained
SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, is the database that tracks international students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). While many people combine F-1 Visa status with SEVIS status, the two are distinct.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the F-1 Visa allows students to enter the U.S. as a full-time student to, “an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program.”
International Student Advisor, Ricki Grover, explained that “F-1 Visa holders are allowed to remain in the U.S if their Visa is expired or revoked, as long as they maintain status as outlined by SEVP.
“If a student leaves the U.S. with a revoked or expired Visa, they would not be able to return without obtaining a new Visa.”
Additionally, if a student’s SEVIS record is terminated for any reason other than an authorized early withdrawal, federal regulations provide no grace period. They are required to leave the U.S. immediately, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s Study in the States website.
Looking Ahead: More Uncertainty
“It really depends,” Grover said when asked if more terminations are expected. “The university is not necessarily informed of a student’s visa status… the Department of State is still reviewing and creating policy on the matter,”
“It is now a part of my daily routine to check the list whereas before the recent situations, I would have checked it once a month or so.”
While the two students that had their SEVIS records revoked have since had their SEVIS records reinstated, the damage was done emotionally, academically, and financially.
In her letter, President Novak reflected on the importance of compassion and solidarity. “As we journey through Holy Week and look toward the hope of Easter,” she wrote, “may we be reminded of the power of compassion, solidarity, and renewal.”
But for many international students, hope must coexist with fear, confusion, and fatigue.
“I’ve thought a lot about whether it’s worth the risk to stay,” said a senior international student. “I don’t know what happens next. None of us do.”
Still, others try to stay grounded in what they can control.
“I think if I just focus on my studies and my sports and continue to do the right thing, I think we’ll all be fine,” said a freshman international student.
That belief, that doing everything right should be enough, is a quiet hope many hold onto. But for now, even the most diligent students are left waiting, watching, and wondering what tomorrow might bring.
“While this continues to be a challenging time,” said Grover, “SAU is committed to supporting our students by acting upon our core values of Courage, Wisdom, Justice, and Service.”
