The Shadow
Rafiul Islam had never been to the United States before he arrived on campus at the University of Lynchburg in the fall of 2023. In his home country of Bangladesh, Islam says that the higher education system does not provide the same opportunities as it does in America. So, he decided to leave his home country and come to the United States to make a name for himself.
“I wanted to become someone who could be powerful enough to speak up,” said Islam, who is finishing his second year and has plans to pursue his master’s in data science after graduation.
The recruitment of international students, such as Islam, is part of a focused effort by the university to increase enrollment. According to Daniel Hall, chief of staff for the university, Lynchburg has admitted over six times the number of international students this year than it did a decade ago.
For the 2015-2016 academic year, Lynchburg admitted 25 international students, compared to 153 new international students accepted for the 2024-2025 academic year. This brought Lynchburg’s current international population to 206 students from across 19 countries.
But Lynchburg is not the only university looking abroad to increase its enrollment. According to the 2024 Open Doors Report, the number of international students in the U.S. increased nearly 7 percent from 2022 to 2023. For the 2023-2024 academic year, 1,126,690 international students were studying in the United States. Despite a decline in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, America’s international student population has increased steadily over the past four decades.
As the Trump administration begins to crack down on international student visas, revoking over 1,500 student visas across 222 schools before Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that they would reverse some of the terminations, Lynchburg has reported an increase in student visa denials.
“We have seen an increase in visa denials for students coming from Nepal,” said Hall, who admitted that he was unsure if this was directly related to the current administration’s policies. “We anticipate there may be other countries where we see higher visa denial rates, especially if those countries are listed on the administration’s list of consideration for travel bans.”
Just over half of Lynchburg’s international student population comes from Nepal, where the university has focused its recruitment efforts in recent years. The university also has a small group of students, mostly women, who come from Afghanistan, one of the countries that President Donald Trump has proposed a travel ban from.
Lynchburg’s Response
While no international students on campus have had changes to their visa status, Hall noted that the university is taking proactive measures to monitor the situation daily.
“We maintain regular communication with all international students and closely track SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System),” Hall noted. “If any irregularities arise, we investigate on a case-by-case basis in accordance with SEVP guidance.”
Despite the proactive measures taken by the university, Islam revealed that he still fears even small institutions like Lynchburg could be targeted by the current administration.
“It can happen to us anytime, any day, any moment,” Islam said. “It’s terrible thinking about that.”
Islam isn’t the only student worried about their visa status. Anandiya John, a sophomore majoring in public relations from India, also expressed fear that she could be targeted for speaking out against the government.
“We should definitely speak up, but there’s a downside to that,” John noted. “We never know what the government is going to do if we do speak up.”
Anandiya John, a public relations major, has plans to pursue missionary work after graduation.
Photo by Jacob Clavijo.
John says that she understands that not every international student will be comfortable speaking out against the current administration’s policies, but urged them to stay informed on matters that affect them directly.
“It’s a really sensitive topic that everyone should be aware of, especially internationals,” said John, 21. “If this is happening to international students, we should be aware of what’s happening.”
For some international students, the administration’s strict policies have made them afraid to return home, fearful that they will not be allowed back into the country.
Niloy Dhar, a sophomore data science major, had plans to go back home to Bangladesh this summer, but after discussions with his family, he decided it was best to postpone his trip until at least the winter, given the political climate.
“They told me to be on the safe side and not to come this summer,” Dhar said about his discussions with his parents. Dhar has not been back home since moving to the U.S. back in the fall of 2023.
Dhar said that the thought of deportation initially did not scare him, noting that he didn’t think the administration’s policies would target lawful immigrant students. But after learning about some of the foreigners who have been arrested by ICE, such as Mahmoud Khalil, a 30-year-old Columbia University graduate student accused of “siding with terrorists” by the White House despite no evidence or criminal charges pressed against him, Dhar says that he has begun to worry about his visa status.
“We are here with some dreams to fulfill,” said Dhar, adding that deportation would reverse the hard work he has put into his studies. “If this happens, that will be really worse for us.”
Despite their support for international students, the university has not released an official statement regarding the cancellation of student visas. Instead, the university says it is keen on speaking with international students directly.
“Rather than issuing broad statements that might not address the specific concerns of different student populations, we are focusing on direct communication with affected students,” Hall shared. “This allows us to provide targeted information and support based on individual circumstances.”
However, most international students have yet to discuss the current visa situation with administrators. While they understand that International Student Support Services are available to speak with them, some feel that it is the university’s responsibility to inform students about the matter.
“They should be more aware of what’s happening and make those students aware,” said Islam, who added that a lot of his peers were not fully informed or concerned with the visa situation. “Hold conversations, chit chats, or instructional meetings about these situations and inform what’s going on.”
Hall, speaking on behalf of the Office of the President, shared the following statement:
“For international students at the University of Lynchburg, I would emphasize several key points as they navigate their academic journey with us: First, stay in regular contact with our staff and faculty, as they are the best resource for up-to-date information regarding visa requirements and policy changes. Second, ensure that you maintain your student status by following regular academic progress requirements and keeping your documents up to date. Third, inform the university of any changes in your personal information or academic plans well in advance.
Most importantly, I want our international students to know that you are valued members of our university community. We are committed to supporting your success and will work diligently to help you navigate any challenges you may encounter during your time with us. The university has numerous resources available to students, and we encourage students to reach out whenever they need assistance.”
A Chilling Effect on College Campuses
But even after ICE announced reversals on legal status terminations last month, and despite court victories by students who have sued the Trump administration, a chilling effect has taken place on college campuses across the country, including Lynchburg.
Numerous international students declined to comment on the situation out of fear of drawing attention to themselves and risking their visa status.
Those who agreed to interviews, all of whom allowed for their names to be used, encouraged other international students to speak up on the matter.
“I think everyone should speak for truth and justice,” Islam said. “That’s the only way we can change the world someday.”
