The University of Tennessee, Knoxville reportedly confirmed in an internal letter last week to members of its community that two students facing possible deportation under President Donald Trump have criminal backgrounds, as claimed by the Trump administration when it changed the immigration status of three students and one university staff member.
UT Chancellor Donde Plowman stated in a purported letter to students and community members on Friday that after the Trump administration changed the immigration status of three students and one staff member, the university was able to locate two of the students’ criminal histories.
In her statement, as obtained by WSMV, Plowman confirmed three students and a “former student working on campus,” who were all in the United States as part of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, “are no longer legally eligible to be enrolled or employed and are at risk for deportation.”
Plowman wrote that the federal database shows the UT students and staff member “were ‘identified in a criminal records check,'” and explained that when the agency searched for criminal history, their search returned results for two of the four identified by the Trump administration.
“We have researched and found that one student is on judicial diversion for a property crime and another has been charged with DUI,” the university chancellor confirmed. “We are still working to determine the reason for the change in status for the other two individuals.”
While the individuals have been deemed no longer eligible to attend the university, as their legal status is revoked, Plowman additionally wrote that the Center for Global Engagement’s International Student and Scholar Services will “support these individuals as we continue to work to fully understand their situations.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that the Trump administration estimated it revoked more than 300 student visas since it began revoking visas of students who participated in pro-Hamas protests following the attacks in Israel on October 7.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “University of Tennessee, Knoxville Campus” by University of Tennessee, Knoxville.Â
Foreign students are allowed entry into the country contingent on enrollment in advanced study, in other words a student visa. It is not a right; it is a sought after and cherished privilege. If you are not a student, you are ineligible for a student visa. The non-student has to go. They have no reason or right to be here. The two students, well, if they broke the law, if they decided to protest or vandalize, they have other intentions than being here to study. They too, should go. The openings in college courses are few. The cherished student visa slots need to be afforded to those who abide by rules and laws. If they participated in pro-Hamas protesting, then they should be permanently expelled and have no right to ever return. Their, the protestors, conduct is what earned them a one-way ticket out.