The US government has terminated the legal status of more than 1,000 international students in recent weeks, putting many at risk of detention and deportation, according to a report by the Associated Press.

The move has affected students from nearly 160 colleges and universities, with at least 1,024 cases reported in less than a month. Several of the affected students have filed legal petitions with the Department of Homeland Security, arguing that the actions were procedurally flawed and lacked justification.

The visa cancellations are being viewed as part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration on immigration and student activism. Prestigious private institutions such as Harvard and Stanford have been impacted, along with public universities including the University of Maryland and Ohio State University.

Earlier this week, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) revealed that the visas and immigration status of nine of its international students and researchers were cancelled without prior notice.

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The administration has also reportedly warned universities of funding cuts if they fail to curb student activism. Harvard University’s $2.3 billion in federal funds have already been frozen, but the institution has signalled its intention to challenge the government’s policies.

Tensions escalated further after the detention of Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil. Federal officials claimed the right to deport any foreign nationals involved in what they labelled as “antisemitic” protests supporting Palestinians, sparking widespread criticism from rights groups and educational institutions.

The situation has raised concerns over academic freedom and the rights of international students in the US, many of whom say they are being unfairly targeted for exercising their right to free speech.

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