"Suddenly Visa Canceled, Sent Back"…Korean Professor Also Expelled from US

University of Houston Assistant Professor Jeon Forced to Halt Lectures
"Visa Revoked... A Problem Facing Many International Scholars"
Trump Intensifies Pressure on Universities Under the Banner of Eradicating Illegal Immigration

A Korean professor working at a university in the United States suddenly had his visa canceled in the middle of the semester, forcing him to stop his lectures and return to Korea, sparking controversy locally. Yonhap News quoted the Texas regional broadcaster 'Fox26Houston' on the 15th (local time), reporting that "a Korean male assistant professor at the University of Houston, Mr. Jeon, suspended his lectures due to visa cancellation."

University of Houston building. Official website

According to Yonhap News, Mr. Jeon recently informed his students, "My visa was unexpectedly revoked. This issue has affected many international scholars recently," and added, "I must return to Korea immediately, so I cannot continue the lectures." He also expressed, "I sincerely apologize for not being able to complete the lectures," and said, "It was a great pleasure studying with you all." Mr. Jeon is known to have worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Ohio State University from September 2022 to June 2024, and started lecturing as an assistant professor at the University of Houston last fall.

Recently, as President Donald Trump has intensified crackdowns on foreign students and researchers under the banner of blocking illegal immigrants and eradicating anti-Semitism, cases of visa cancellations like Mr. Jeon's have occurred. The news of Mr. Jeon's visa cancellation has caused anxiety among students and professors at the University of Houston. On social media, comments such as "We lost an excellent scientist" and "The government is taking actions fatal to American higher education" have been posted. However, the university explained, "Mr. Jeon’s student visa was canceled because he is pursuing a doctoral program at another institution."

Immigration attorney Raed Gonzalez told 'Fox26Houston' in an interview, "The Department of Homeland Security has canceled the visas of over 300 international students and faculty members," adding, "This has affected universities in Texas such as the University of Texas, Texas A&M University, University of North Texas, and Texas Tech University."

According to an analysis by CNN based on statements from deans, lawyers, and school announcements, more than 600 international students, faculty, and researchers at about 90 U.S. universities have recently had their visas canceled. Furthermore, according to The Washington Post (WP), since mid-last month, about 1,000 international students and researchers in the U.S. have had their visas canceled or federal records deleted, with an estimated minimum of 4,700 international student records erased since President Trump took office. However, there is strong criticism regarding the reasons for the visa cancellations.

A pro-Palestinian protest is taking place in New York, USA. Photo by Getty Images Yonhap News

On the 24th of last month, news emerged that a Korean student enrolled at Columbia University, one of the Ivy League schools (eight prestigious private universities in the U.S. East Coast), was targeted for deportation after participating in a pro-Palestinian protest. He had obtained permanent residency in 2021 but was suddenly notified by the State Department that "his residency status was revoked." Since last year, pro-Palestinian and anti-war protests have been actively held on U.S. campuses.

However, the court decided to accept a request to temporarily halt the Trump administration's attempt to deport the student. Until further court orders, authorities are prohibited from detaining the student or transferring him outside the jurisdiction.