Official Statement on Federal Administration’s Visa Terminations of Arizona Students

Below is our union's official statement on the Trump administration's visa terminations of Arizona students and higher education workers.

Approved by the UCWAZ CWA Local 7065 Executive Committee and released publicly on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025.

As of today, well over 100 international students across our three public Arizona universities have had their visas revoked, causing significant harm to the students, to our institutions, and to the communities we serve.

To all of those who who have had your friends stolen from you, and those who are afraid that you might be next:

We stand in solidarity with you. No one should have to live with this fear. You came to this country seeking an education and the opportunity to better your own life and the lives of your families and communities. These visa revocations and the fear they cause are stealing that opportunity from you. You deserve better. Please reach out, and we will do what we can to support you.

To the administrations of ASU, NAU, and UA:

We acknowledge that you are in a difficult situation, but you are not powerless. This culture of uncertainty and fear is fundamentally incompatible with the purpose of our institutions. We challenge you to stand up for your students and fiercely defend the opportunities being stolen from them. You must do everything in your power to reduce this uncertainty and fear:

1. Be Transparent. While individual identities must be protected, publicly release accurate information about how many students have been affected and any trends in countries targeted or reasons given for visa revocations. Be honest with international students about the risks to their status posed by traveling internationally to academic conferences or returning home to visit family in the current political climate. Regularly brief all shared governance bodies, including Faculty Senate, Staff Council, and Student Government on these topics.
2. Support Your Students. Work with all students to ensure that they can continue their studies, whether their visa is revoked or whether they are simply denied entry into the US despite being a citizen or holding a valid visa or green card. Provide any such affected students with access to ongoing legal support and representation.
3. Provide a Sanctuary. To the fullest extent possible under the law, refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement, such as refusing to provide access to student records or data, and refuse to allow immigration enforcement onto university campuses and property.

To the rest of us:

These students are our coworkers, our peers, our friends. They are well-educated, and working to research and overcome some of humanity’s biggest challenges. Every visa revoked is a person stolen from our community and an opportunity lost towards solving society's greatest problems.

We invite you to join us in supporting our international students and visa holders:

1. Sign our statewide petition Unite To Defend Public Education Against Federal Attacks
2. Join your union
3. Find a May Day action near you

As a nation, we promised to be a land of opportunity. Let’s make good on that promise.

In solidarity, 

Your Union, United Campus Workers of Arizona CWA Local 7065

To read or download the statement as a PDF, click the button below.