CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — At least nine members of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have had their visas and immigration status abruptly revoked, sparking concerns among university leaders about the broader implications for U.S. scientific leadership and international collaboration.
In a campus-wide email sent on April 14, MIT President Sally Kornbluth disclosed that the affected individuals include students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral researchers. The visa cancellations occurred without prior notice or explanation from federal authorities, she said.
“Since April 4, nine members of our community have had their visas and immigration status unexpectedly revoked,” Kornbluth wrote, describing the developments as “deeply troubling.”
The revocations come amid a wider crackdown on immigration and campus activism under former President Donald Trump’s administration, which appears to be having a lasting impact despite the change in leadership. According to a CBS News report, nearly 530 students, researchers, and faculty across 88 American universities have faced similar visa cancellations in recent months.
One of the affected MIT members has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government through independent legal counsel. While the university is not a party to the litigation, it has expressed strong support for the student. “We are extremely concerned that there appears to have been no notice or explanation from the government for the revocation,” the email stated.
Broader Concerns Over U.S. Competitiveness
Kornbluth warned that these immigration policy shifts could deter top global talent from choosing the United States for research and education, potentially threatening the country’s long-term competitiveness.
“The threat of unexpected visa revocations will make it less likely that top talent from around the world will come to the U.S. – and that will damage American competitiveness and scientific leadership for years to come,” she said.
Elite universities including Harvard and Stanford have also reported similar challenges, particularly for students and scholars perceived to be involved in activism or critical of conservative government policies.
MIT Joins Legal Challenge Against Federal Funding Cuts
In a separate but related move, MIT has joined a coalition of prominent universities in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The legal challenge, filed in federal court in Massachusetts on April 14, opposes a new DOE policy that caps reimbursements for indirect research costs at 15 percent—a decision that could cut more than $400 million in federal funding annually.
“If DOE’s policy is allowed to stand, it will devastate scientific research at America’s universities and badly undermine our nation’s enviable status as a global leader in scientific research and innovation,” the lawsuit stated, according to Reuters.
Other plaintiffs in the case include Princeton University, the California Institute of Technology, and the University of Illinois.
Kornbluth emphasized the impact of DOE funding on MIT’s research community, noting that nearly 1,000 university members rely on DOE grants.
“MIT is an American university, proudly so — but we would be gravely diminished without the students and scholars who join us from other nations,” she wrote.
Harvard Faces Federal Funding Freeze
Meanwhile, Harvard University is reportedly grappling with a freeze of approximately $2.3 billion in federal funds, following its refusal to comply with White House directives aimed at curbing campus activism and dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The funding halt is viewed as part of a broader campaign targeting higher education institutions perceived to be resisting conservative policy priorities.
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