A cloud of anxiety is settling over university campuses in the United States, and Ghanaian students are among those feeling the pressure.

Across the country, more international students particularly from Africa are being blindsided by sudden visa revocations and unexpected deportation notices.

The trend has left many shocked and scrambling, with dozens of students from Ghana and Nigeria recently informed by U.S. immigration authorities that their visas had been revoked and that they must leave the country within seven days.

This emerging crisis reflects a broader shift in U.S. immigration policy under Donald Trump’s second term. Policies that were once primarily directed at undocumented migrants are now increasingly being applied to student visa holders. For many Ghanaian students in the U.S., once-secure F-1 and J-1 visas have become sources of deep concern rather than symbols of academic opportunity.

In numerous cases, students have been given no warning before their visas were cancelled. Some only learned of their new status after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents appeared at their residences or approached them in public.

One high-profile incident that has drawn international attention involved a Turkish doctoral student in Massachusetts who was detained days after her visa was revoked.

Authorities claim her political activities triggered the move, though her lawyers argue she was simply advocating for Palestinian human rights.

The impact appears to be hitting African students particularly hard. Some have seen their visas revoked after participating in peaceful demonstrations or being cited for minor legal violations, such as traffic infractions.

A pending legal case involving over 100 African students most with no criminal record highlights how vague or unsubstantiated allegations have become grounds for removing students without due process.

What is perhaps most troubling is the lack of any real opportunity for appeal. Once a student’s visa is revoked, the expectation is swift compliance — leave the country in days or face possible detention and deportation. The burden falls squarely on the students themselves.

As the U.S. immigration climate becomes more unpredictable, Ghanaian students studying abroad and those preparing to do so are being advised to exercise caution. Immigration experts stress the importance of staying connected with university support offices, avoiding any behavior that might trigger scrutiny, and acting quickly if contacted by immigration officials. “Think carefully about public political expression. In the current climate, even peaceful activism on international issues may draw unwanted scrutiny.” Legal counsel should be sought immediately upon receiving any immigration notice, and embassies should be alerted right away.

The Ghanaian government is being urged to respond. Education stakeholders are calling on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat to increase protections for students studying abroad.

There are also appeals for embassies to expand their reach to students in areas most affected and to create more effective emergency communication channels.

Despite the growing challenges, many Ghanaian students in the U.S. continue to excel, contributing meaningfully across disciplines such as medicine, engineering, and policy.

Yet the environment has changed. Families in Ghana who have made sacrifices to send their children abroad are now facing an uncertain and rapidly shifting reality.

The dream of U.S. education lives on — but it comes with growing risks that require vigilance, strategy, and support.