Hours after it was reported that United States (US) visas of over 400 students, including Pakistanis, had been revoked, the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) on Tuesday announced that the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) had been terminated for the country.
In a statement, USEFP said it regretted to inform that the programme, which provided one semester of US-based academic and cultural exchange to students from Pakistan, had come to an end after 15 years.
“We understand that this news may be disappointing, especially for those who applied this year and were looking forward to this opportunity. Over the years, the Global UGRAD Program has provided life-changing experiences to thousands of students, fostering academic growth, cultural exchange and leadership development,” it said.
USEFP went on to state that it was immensely proud of the impact the programme has had on its participants and the communities it had touched.
“We sincerely appreciate your interest in the program [sic] and the commitment to personal and academic growth. While this chapter is closing, we encourage you to explore other exchange and scholarship opportunities that may align with your aspirations,” it concluded, which aspirants the best for their academic and professional journeys.
While an official reason behind the termination of the programme has not yet been reported, the statement comes hours after the US abruptly cancelled the visas of more than 400 international students, including Pakistanis and Muslims from other countries, without prior notice or legal proceedings.
According to media reports, while there could be several reasons behind the cancellations, officials associated with colleges and universities suggested that the government was taking the action quietly as the Donald Trump administration was reportedly targeting students who had participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
However, reports added, some students had their visas cancelled despite not taking part in any protest.
Among the affected students are those pursuing an education at Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, University of Michigan, Central Michigan University, Colorado State University, Minnesota State University and several others institutions.
The majority of the visa cancellations reportedly occurred during an audit of the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System), reports said, adding that universities were currently providing legal assistance and support to affected students.
Student organisations have also raised questions about violations of due process.
