After two weeks of being unaffected by the Trump administration’s actions, a UMass Lowell undergraduate student had their visa revoked and immigration status terminated over this past weekend.

The news was revealed in an email from Chancellor Julie Chen to the UML campus community.

Chen’s note reveals that “as part of the university’s proactive effort to support and inform our international students, the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) has been regularly monitoring the federal database used to monitor and track international students. On Saturday, the university discovered that federal authorities had revoked the visa and terminated the immigration status of a UMass Lowell undergraduate student.”

The email goes on to say UMass Lowell staff “are in touch with the student and have connected them to on- and off-campus resources. The university also continues to work with our campus partners, the Office of General Counsel and the Attorney General of Massachusetts to ensure we do all we can to support and protect our community.”

UMass Lowell officials did not want to elaborate further on this particular case, instead referring InsideLowell to a statement issued by  UMass President Marty Meehan yesterday.

“These actions by the federal government are extremely troubling and upsetting,” Meehan said. “Our international students, faculty and staff are valued members of our university, and these unprecedented actions by the federal government threaten all international students’ ability to lawfully study and work in this country. For decades, American higher education has provided opportunities for people from all over the world to live, work and learn in the United States. Massachusetts and the nation have grown stronger because of this infusion of talent.”

While this morning’s news was the first case of a UMass Lowell student having their visa revoked, 14 other students across the five UMass campuses have been affected; six at UMass Amherst, seven students or recent graduates at UMass Boston and one at UMass Dartmouth.

InsideLowell was also told federal authorities did not notify UMass officials of the actions taken, and that “these visa revocations have no known connection with either UMass Amherst’s federally mandated participation in the active Office of Civil Rights Title VI complaint processes or with students’ engagement in activism.”

Chancellor Chen took the opportunity in her email this morning to assure students their presence and contributions are valued, that the university remains committed to supporting them and is “deeply invested in the wellbeing and success of all our students, faculty and staff.”

UMass Lowell students were encouraged to monitor the e-mail address used to process their non-immigrant visas, advising the U.S. Department of State will likely use that address to communicate any changes in visa status and F-1 International Students and J-1 Exchange Visitors should not hesitate to contact the ISSO with questions, or attend one of the monthly coffee hours with ISSO advisors.

Additionally, faculty and staff are encouraged to monitor travel guidance and advisories before making plans to leave or return to the United States.

The email from the Chancellor offered additional information on resources and support, reminding the UML community that “counseling and mental health resources are available to students through the Wellness Center, as well as the resources available to staff and faculty through the Employee Assistance Program. These are challenging times for many people, and certainly for those living far from family and friends who are concerned about their ability to continue their education and work in this country. As we always do in difficult times, I hope every member of the UMass Lowell community will consider reaching out and supporting fellow members of our community who may need assistance and reassurance.”

The note ends with Chen writing “we will do our best to share information and updates as they become available.”