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US Revokes 40 International Students Visas Over Traffic Offenses

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Nearly 40 international students in the United States recently had their visas unexpectedly revoked.

According to experts and advocates, the U.S. government made this decision based on minor infractions such as traffic violations.

Many believe this action is part of a broader effort by Donald Trump’s administration to tighten immigration control and increase scrutiny on universities.

The move has taken students by surprise, leaving them anxious and uncertain about their future.

One student affected, Lisa from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, said she was only a month away from graduating when she received an unexpected email, according to The Guardian UK.

“ISS is writing to inform you that your SEVIS record was terminated,” the message read. SEVIS refers to the “Student and Exchange Visitor Information System,” which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Initially, Lisa assumed the email was a scam. But after checking online forums and researching, she discovered she was now “out of status,” similar to numerous other international students.

The cause? A minor traffic offense from the previous year. Lisa had received two tickets and had been fingerprinted during her court appearance.

Typically, after a student’s SEVIS record is terminated, they are allowed only 15 days to leave the country. Staying beyond that can result in deportation or being barred from reentry.

Students from institutions like Stanford, UCLA, UC San Diego, Ohio State, and the University of Oregon have also been impacted, The Guardian UK reports.

Many share similar experiences: minor traffic tickets, court appearances, fingerprinting—without any awareness that such incidents could affect their visa status.

Affected students compiled a shared spreadsheet, highlighting experiences from over 50 universities.

Even students whose charges were dropped or who committed no crimes were labeled with “criminal records” in their termination letters.

Most terminations occurred on April 4, shortly after a public statement by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on March 27.

“Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas,” Rubio stated, citing national security concerns.

Immigration lawyers have argued that this kind of mass action is highly unusual.

“Students weren’t given any chance to explain their situation,” said Shenqi Cai, an attorney at Lashine Law in California.

She noted that the terminations appeared to stem from automated screenings that failed to consider legal differences across states.

Cai added that around 90% of the impacted students had been fingerprinted, despite the minor or dismissed nature of the charges.

“Fingerprinting alone should not equate to a criminal record,” she clarified.

The consequences for students are severe.

David, a Chinese national participating in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, lost his work authorization immediately. Though his employer is attempting to relocate him to Canada, he has only 15 days to leave the U.S., posing a serious challenge.

Another affected student, Bill, was cited for driving with an expired license. His case remains unresolved in court. Now, he’s caught in a dilemma—he must appear in court but risks detention if he stays.

Universities have largely directed students to seek legal help. While some attorneys offer discounted services, costs remain high.

“The dust of history falls on me, and it becomes a mountain,” Bill reflected.

Amid the growing panic, over 300 students participated in an emergency Zoom session with federal immigration attorney Brad Banias.

“It’s not a legal move, it’s a political one,” Banias said during the call. “They’re criminalizing parking tickets.”

Lisa now faces an uncertain future. Her graduation, job prospects, and graduate school plans are all in jeopardy.

“Worst case, I don’t graduate. I go home and start college again. Four more years. And then what?” she asked.

This sudden visa crackdown has raised serious concerns. While it directly impacts students, it also reflects what many see as an intensifying focus on immigration and education by the Trump administration.

“This isn’t just about students,” Banias added. “It’s about the message the government is sending: that no one is safe.”

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NDLEA Seizes Lipsticks Stuffed With Drugs At Lagos Airport [VIDEO]

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Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have uncovered another batch of female lipsticks containing illegal drugs at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, revealed this in a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) page on Sunday.

He also urged Nigerians, particularly women, to be extremely vigilant when purchasing or accepting beauty products, especially from unfamiliar sellers or dubious online platforms.

The statement read, Ladies beware! It does appear like female lipstick is becoming attractive as an instrument for concealment and trafficking now with yet another consignment of factory fitted female lipsticks stuffed with illicit substances intercepted at MMIA barely a week after @ndlea_nigeria officers uncovered a similar cargo at a courier company in Lagos.

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JUST IN: Former President Buhari Dies In London Clinic

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Former Nigerian leader, Muhammadu Buhari, passed away on Sunday.

His longtime media aide, Garba Shehu, confirmed the news in a brief statement issued on Sunday afternoon, stating that the former president died at a clinic in London.

Shehu’s message, distributed to the media, read:
“INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHIRRAJIUUN. The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin.”

The statement concluded with the date: July 13, 2025.

Although the cause of death was not disclosed, Buhari, who held office from 2015 to 2023, had frequently sought medical care in the United Kingdom during and after his time as president.

Buhari, a retired Major General in the Nigerian Army, first led Nigeria as a military head of state from 1983 to 1985. Decades later, he was elected president through a democratic process. He made history as the first opposition candidate to unseat a sitting president in Nigeria.

Funeral plans have not yet been made public.

 

More to come…

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No Effective Governance Without Full Local Government Autonomy — Femi Gbajabiamila

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The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has stated that governance at the local government level cannot be effective without complete autonomy.

He made the remark while addressing journalists after voting in the Lagos State local government elections in Surulere on Saturday.

When asked about the progress of implementing the LG autonomy ruling by the Supreme Court one year after it was delivered, Gbajabiamila described the process as ongoing and said it would be completed with time.

Gbajabiamila said, “The ruling was welcome by everybody. It’s the execution of that ruling and the implementation of that ruling that we are still trying to dot the Is and cross the Ts.

“I believe in a matter of time, we will realise full autonomy. There cannot be effective governance without full autonomy. That’s what we are working toward.”

In July 2024, the Supreme Court granted autonomy to all 774 local government areas across the country following a case filed by the federal government through the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation. However, the ruling is yet to be fully implemented.

Following the judgement, the Senate urged state and local governments to immediately adhere to the court’s directive, especially regarding local government accounts and direct fund disbursements.

The Senate also moved to amend relevant sections of the Constitution to ensure full local government autonomy nationwide.

The announcement was made by Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau, after lawmakers emerged from a closed-door session where they discussed alleged efforts by some state governments to bypass the Supreme Court’s ruling on July 11.

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