Union representing students standing by Univ. of Iowa student after visa revoked

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) - The union representing graduate students at the University of Iowa is standing behind an international student who had their student visa revoked.

UI International Programs Dean and Associate Provost Russell Ganim announced the cancellation of the visa on Thursday, saying the university did not initiate the action, nor was it aware of any violations.

According to Ganim’s email, the University learned about the Visa being canceled on April 4th. He did not identify the student.

In a statement released Friday, the local chapter of the Campaign to Organize Graduate Students (COGS) called on the university for support.

“This is a scary time,” the union said in the statement. “We want to assure our members that COGS will do whatever we can, putting our bodies on the line, in order to protect each other.”

The union added that having their visa revoked does not mean the student needs to self-deport. The students instead should check their student status with the university’s immigration law clinic.

COGS added additional resources for students: American Immigration Lawyers Association, IC Compassion, Iowa City Catholic Worker, Eschucha Mi Voz Iowa, and the Prairielands Freedom Fund.

International students across the country have been reporting their legal status has been getting pulled unexpectedly.

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