New Delhi, April 19, 2025: In a growing diplomatic issue between India and the United States, the Indian government has raised concerns over the treatment of Indian students whose U.S. student visas have recently been revoked. The matter comes ahead of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance’s scheduled visit to India on April 21 for high-level bilateral discussions. According to official sources, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has taken up the issue with U.S. authorities through diplomatic channels. The move follows a policy brief published by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), which revealed that 50% of the visa revocation cases surveyed involved Indian students. The AILA study, based on 327 cases, highlights a sharp increase in the revocation of Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) status for international students over the past two months. The revocations reportedly came in the wake of a newly launched U.S. State Department initiative — the AI-assisted “Catch and Revoke” program — designed to identify visa holders whose social media activity was considered politically sensitive or contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests. An American official, speaking anonymously to The Hindu, denied any targeting of Indian nationals, stating that "continuous vetting and visa revocation actions are not limited to visa holders from any specific country." However, the AILA brief reported that apart from alleged political activity, several Indian students lost their SEVIS status over minor infractions, such as traffic violations or incidents where students were victims rather than offenders. The association expressed concern that such arbitrary enforcement could jeopardize the academic and professional futures of students unfairly caught in the system. India’s MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the government is “in touch with affected students” and offering consular support. The ministry, however, declined to comment on whether the issue would be specifically raised during Vice President Vance’s visit or in meetings with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Ricky Gill, also visiting India this week. This diplomatic development arrives as India and the United States are working to fast-track a proposed bilateral trade agreement and expand cooperation in strategic sectors. “Driving away international students not only weakens our economy but threatens our national security,” said AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson, adding that international scholars and researchers play a vital role in the United States' academic and scientific ecosystem. The MEA has advised Indian students in the U.S. to “adhere to local laws and maintain awareness of visa requirements” amid the ongoing review process.