One thing that makes UTA what it is today is its network of international students and faculty. People of all backgrounds sit in the same classrooms, labs and studios to learn, grow and share ideas. But in the past year, several actions at the federal and state levels have impacted many people on campus.
The Shorthorn Editorial Board believes that international students and faculty are an integral part of campuses nationwide. At a time when visa holders may be navigating new legislation and regulations, supporting the global Maverick community through uncertainty is important.
In April 2025, more than 1,800 international students and recent graduates nationwide, including 27 at UTA, saw their visa statuses changed by the federal government. While UTA students’ statuses were all restored within the month, the incident marked the beginning of multiple national and state policy proposals affecting student and faculty visa holders over the past year.
Recent proposals include limits on the length of certain student visas and expanded social media vetting for nonimmigrant visa holders living in the U.S. Even when these actions are delayed or never implemented, they may still create uncertainty for international students and faculty.
For many international students, adjusting to academics and daily life in a foreign country can already be daunting. A Pennsylvania State University study found that 9.5% of international students reported social isolation, compared with 6.7% of domestic students between fall 2018 and spring 2022. Visa uncertainty may intensify those feelings.
The uncertainty students feel is reflected in recent enrollment data. International student arrivals in the U.S. declined in 2025, and UTA saw a roughly 20% drop in international enrollment, mostly among graduate students, according to UTA enrollment data. This marked the steepest decline in international enrollment at UTA in the past decade.
At a Glance
The Issue: National and state policies have impacted the visa process for international students.
We Think: These policies may cause uncertainty among those impacted and deter international students from coming to UTA.
Take Action: Students should engage with people of different cultural backgrounds to foster intercultural relationships and strengthen global ties.
While there could be multiple factors behind the drop in enrollment, it comes directly after executive actions that target student visa holders, which could lead them to feel unsafe and deter them from studying in the U.S.
The policies don’t just affect students; they impact faculty as well.
In January, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a directive to freeze the processing of new H-1B work visa applications for Texas state agencies and public universities through May 31, 2027. Since 2021, UTA has received approval for about 240 H-1B beneficiaries, the third most among UT System academic institutions.
Abbott said in the directive that the freeze was put in place so the visa process could be reviewed and implement guardrails so job openings are filled by qualified Texans first. However, when it comes to the faculty at a university, many employees here on H-1B visas were hired because they have a specific research focus or skill set that few people possess.
Faculty with these skill sets are integral not just to campus, but to UTA’s status as an R1 institution and to the broader research community.
While there may be little that domestic students can do to ease uncertainty at the federal and state levels, they can make efforts to connect with international students by attending intercultural events or simply listening to their experiences.
The Global Engagement department hosts many events throughout the year, such as Global Grounds, International Week and cultural events, that serve as opportunities for Mavericks to connect.
The UTA English Language Institute also hosts Conversation Club and Conversation Partners, which pair native speakers with international students to improve their conversation skills and allow them to exchange cultural information.
Students experiencing uncertainty firsthand can also access campus support. The Office of International Engagement offers immigration advising in-person, online and by phone, along with visa guidance on its website.
Counseling and Psychological Services provides up to six free counseling sessions per semester for enrolled students, and TimelyCare offers virtual mental health support.
These resources and programs can lead to stronger ties between domestic and international students and can provide tools for visa holders to navigate changing regulations.
It is also worth acknowledging that no two experiences are the same, and not every person here on a visa may be experiencing this uncertainty or even be aware of these legislative movements. But for those affected, small actions may help them feel connected.
The Shorthorn Editorial Board is made up of opinion editor Lillian Durand, editor-in-chief Pedro Malkomes; news editor James Ward; associate news editor Taylor Sansom; multimedia editor Samarie Goffney; engagement editor Sairam Marupudi; design editor Haley Walton; news reporter Acadia Clements; and illustrator Ryleigh Hood. Sansom and Marupudi were not present for this discussion.
opinion-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu