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PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona State University welcomed 11,000 international students this fall, down from 14,000 last year — a 20% drop the university attributes in part to visa processing delays and shifting immigration policies.
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The decline comes as students and families moved onto campus Thursday, hauling boxes into dorms to start the new semester.
Nationwide trend
Immigration attorney Darius Amiri, of Rose Law Group, said the drop at ASU reflects a broader national pattern.
“I think we’ve seen about a 10% drop nationwide in international student enrollment since the beginning of the Trump administration,” Amiri said.
Amiri said the financial consequences for universities are significant, noting that international students typically pay full tuition.
“There’s a huge economic hit to that,” he said.
According to ASU’s own data, international students contribute an estimated $600 million to Arizona’s economy and support more than 5,500 jobs.
Visa delays and revocations
ASU President Michael Crow has pointed to visa processing delays as a contributing factor. Amiri said he has seen the slowdown firsthand.
“The appointment processing has slowed down and it’s a big area of concern because a lot of these international students,” Amiri said.
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Sen. Mark Kelly is among lawmakers pressing the State Department for answers on visa delays and appointment availability.
In April, the United Campus Workers of Arizona found more than 100 ASU students had their visas revoked. Michael Kintscher, president of the organization, said the reasons were not always clear.
“At least some of them are for minor offenses in the past, like maybe a traffic ticket or something like that, but there’s no official reason stated in the letter itself saying that the visa has been revoked,” Kintscher said.
Kintscher said affected students have responded in different ways.
“I do know some students have self-deported, like they have voluntarily left. Other students have stuck around and are seeking legal advice, so there’s been a mix of responses,” he said.
A university spokesperson said ASU continues to support international students and is offering alternative pathways for those unable to arrive on time.
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