MANKATO, Minn. — Five students at Minnesota State University had their student visas terminated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security without prior notification, according to MSU’s president in a message sent out late Wednesday.

President Edward Inch’s email to the campus community stated the university’s global education team is working with the students to support them and refer them to immigration attorneys.

“These are troubling times, and this situation is unlike any we have navigated before,” he stated “I am asking for your help. These are difficult situations with many folks working diligently to respond to inquiries, support one another and our students, and advocate where possible.

“I ask all of you to please be sensitive to the fact that most information about the students cannot be shared due to student privacy laws. Speculation and sharing rumors is not helpful and causes additional distress and confusion.”

Inch earlier this week announced Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, which is within the Department of Homeland Security, detained an international student as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration. The Free Press has repeatedly requested information on the student, the reason for their detainment and their current status from ICE and received no response.

MSU learned of the abrupt changes to the five’s Student Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, when they ran a status check, according to Inch’s email.

“Along with our partners at the Minnesota State system office, we are working to support our international students and employees by advocating for them with our elected officials, many of whom are also working to get answers from ICE and the Administration,” he stated.

He asked for the community to stand together in support of students, faculty and staff. The university is monitoring the situation for its international employees.

SEVIS is a database used to manage and track foreign student residency statuses. Once registered in SEVIS, an international student can apply for their student visa.

Termination of SEVIS records means ICE agents may investigate the student to confirm their departure. The student loses any employment authorization and cannot re-enter the U.S on that SEVIS record.

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