ASHLAND — He was here, studying at Ashland University — and then, he was gone.
An unidentified international student received a letter from the U.S. consulate in his country “requesting that he voluntarily leave the United States or potentially face deportation.”
That language comes from an email sent April 17 that appears to have been written by AU’s director of International Student Services, a copy of which is at the bottom of this story. The student is finishing his classes at home, the email said.
His departure comes as more than 1,000 international students across the country have had their visas revoked or legal status terminated since late March, per reporting from the Associated Press.
Ashland Source received a copy of the email from Anne Strouth, the county’s emergency management agency director. Strouth also directs AU’s criminal justice and emergency management and homeland security programs. She declined to offer further comment about the email.
Jennifer Wininger’s signature is at the bottom of the message. She directs International Student Services at AU. The school did not confirm she sent the original message. It’s uncertain when it was first sent or how many people have received it at this point. The message said recipients could forward the email to their faculty and staff.
The forwarded message Ashland Source received originated with Katherine Brown, the dean of the school’s College of Arts and Sciences. Brown shared the message on April 17 with 69 visibly included staff and faculty at the College of Arts and Sciences.
“International Student Services wants to assure you that we have assisted this student effectively,” Wininger wrote. “He is home safely and will be permitted to complete his classes from home. We will continue to monitor his situation and support him through the coming days.”
The email did not offer identifying details about who the student is, his visa type, his major or whether any other students were impacted or would be impacted by the federal government’s recent visa revocations.
AU’s response
AU did not respond to specific questions about the matter.
The university responded with the following statement:
Ashland University is proud to enroll 215 international students who are pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in person and online. They play a vital role in our learning community. We are actively recruiting and welcoming new and returning students from across the world to our campus.
On a daily basis, AU’s International Student Services monitors the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, which provides information and resources to international students and designated school officials. As a matter of policy, we do not comment publicly on the visa status of our students.
Questions Ashland Source submitted to AU
- Can you confirm an AU student’s visa was terminated, and that faculty was notified about the matter? Is it accurate to state this student’s I-20 was terminated?
- Can you share any further information about this student, what type of visa they had or what program they were in?
- How many faculty members were initially sent this email from International Student Services? Do you know how many faculty and staff members have received this email message at this point?
- Has there been communication with international students about this matter?
- Has International Student Services heard from any more students facing similar issues with their I-20s?
- What is the process for handling this type of scenario at AU?
- How are you ensuring the international student community continues to feel secure on AU’s campus?
- Is there anything the public should understand regarding student visas or international students on AU’s campus?
Why are student visas being revoked?
Student visas
There were more than 1.1 million international students studying in the U.S. during the 2023-2024 school year. India was the top place of origin for students, followed by China.
International students must obtain a visa to study in the U.S. The most common types are F-1 and M-1 visas, which apply to students pursuing academic studies and vocational studies, respectively. For more information, visit this link.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said visa revocations are targeted at those taking part in activities that are counter to U.S. national interests or foreign policy. That includes students who protested Israel’s war in Gaza as student protests swept the country last spring.
There were no reported protests or demonstrations on AU’s campus. Other Ohio universities did see large pro-Palestine demonstrations throughout 2024.
Several students nationwide whose visas have been revoked say they’re not part of those categories, however.
Some have filed lawsuits alleging they were denied due process. That includes at least one Ohio State University student, who filed a lawsuit against Rubio, the Secretary of State, along with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons.
At least a dozen institutions in Ohio have seen student visas revoked, for a total of at least 53 students in the state impacted by the policy, according to a tracker from Inside Higher Ed.
How is AU handling visa revocations?
It’s unclear.
In the email, Wininger said the school didn’t anticipate a large number of its students would be impacted by requests for “self-deportation.”
It stated students should come to International Student Services right away if they do receive such a letter.
“We will help students create an individualized plan to navigate their courses, travel plans, and next steps,” the email stated. “Our goal is to keep the students safe and to minimize personal trauma to the best of our ability.”
(A PDF copy of the forwarded message Ashland Source received is below.)
Additional reporting contributed by Dillon Carr.
