March 12, 2026: This Week in International Student News
- Carrie Circosta
- 2 hours ago
- 7 min read
The next flight you get on, maybe don't pass on those free headphones...especially if you forgot your own.
United Airlines just updated its policies that the airline can kick passengers off flights...and even ban them...for playing audio without headphones.
Harsh? You decide.
I'll be curious to see if it's enforced on the next United flight I'm on...
But for now, headphones on or off...let's get caught up on this week's headlines:
📰 Top Headlines: It's official...U.S. student visa issuances took a huge plunge, Iranian students on U.S. campuses process grief and uncertainty, and U.S. lawmakers push to designate Chinese student organizations as foreign missions.
🔍 Interesting Find: A U.S. university is betting its future on Saudi Arabia by being the first American university to open a campus inside the country.
🎓 Featured Scholarship Resource: Spotlight on Ohio Wesleyan University — ranked among the best universities in the world for international students, with merit awards available to every admitted student.
⚡ Immigration Corner Deep Dive: The latest health craze is all about being "California Sober"...so I share what international students need to know before smoking up this latest trend.
You ready? Let's do this!
Carrie at International Student Voice ⭐
Best Links for International Students
📰 TOP 3 HEADLINES FROM THE WEEK
📉 U.S. Student Visa Issuances Plunge 36% in Summer 2025
This story has been dominating international education headlines this week. F-1 student visas plunged 36% between May and August of 2025, with India, the top source of international students, seeing an even sharper drop of roughly 60%, driven by a suspension of visa interviews, mass visa revocations, a travel ban expanded to 39 countries, and mounting uncertainty around OPT. Since STEM OPT participants account for more than half of all international students, researchers warn that restricting or eliminating the program could cost the U.S. economy $481 billion annually within a decade. (ICEF Monitor)
🇮🇷 Iranian Students Speak Out about War, the Death of Khamenei, and an Uncertain Future
Iranian students across U.S. campuses are processing a profound mix of grief, hope, and uncertainty following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28 in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike, with many expressing cautious optimism about democratic change even as they worry about family back home and their own visa status. As of today, Iran accuses the U.S. and Israel of targeting civilians, with more than 1,300 people reported killed since the conflict began, while Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been appointed as the new Supreme Leader, and Iran's navy has begun firing on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. (The Daily Campus | Al Jazeera)
🚨 U.S. Lawmakers Push to Label Chinese Student Groups as Foreign Missions
It doesn't sound terrible, but it's actually a big deal. U.S. policymakers have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to designate Chinese Students and Scholars Associations as "foreign missions of China," arguing the groups act as cover for espionage and transnational repression. This move, which would be just short of an outright ban, would require chapters to notify the State Department before meetings and seek prior approval for all public events. Education advocates are pushing back hard, warning the proposal threatens academic freedom and risks unfairly targeting thousands of Chinese students who simply use these associations for community and cultural support. (The PIE News)
🎓 FEATURED SCHOLARSHIP
Ohio Wesleyan University has been ranked among the world's top 23% Best Universities and top 29% Best Value Universities for international students by Study Abroad Aide, which reviewed data from over 8,500 colleges and universities worldwide. Notably, OWU offers international merit awards to every admitted student regardless of academic profile or financial need, recognizing the value international students bring to campus. (Delaware Gazette)
🔍 INTERESTING FIND
🇸🇦 A U.S. University is Betting Its Future on Saudi Arabia
Facing a sharp decline in international students coming to the U.S., the University of New Haven is taking a bold gamble...becoming the first American university to open a campus inside Saudi Arabia, with a Riyadh location set to launch this fall and ambitious plans to grow to 13,000 students within a decade. The move is a direct response to the international student crunch at home, with the university hoping to reach Saudi students, particularly women unlikely to study abroad, in a modernizing, oil-rich country where four million Saudis are expected to reach college-going age by 2030. But the plan faces real complications: even before the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran and the regional fallout, the university's Saudi plans were already running into regulatory and financial hurdles that have stalled similar projects from larger, more well-known institutions. (Boston Globe)
News in 1 Sentence
Iowa's House passed a bill that would bar state universities from hiring H-1B visa holders from countries designated as "foreign adversaries", including China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela, and Syria.
Dr. Matthew Ariwoola, a Nigerian chemistry student at the University of South Carolina whose visa was abruptly and inexplicably revoked in 2025, has earned his PhD while continuing to fight his deportation case in court.
Russia has designated UC Berkeley an "undesirable" organization, making it the fifth American university blacklisted, meaning Russian students who return home could face criminal prosecution simply for having studied there, with penalties ranging from heavy fines to six years in prison.
A federal judge dismissed the case of Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a Babson College freshman wrongfully deported to Honduras, ruling that when she declined an ICE-arranged return flight, fearing she would be immediately detained and deported again upon landing, she waived the court's only remaining basis for jurisdiction; her attorneys have since filed an appeal.
U.S. embassies across Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia have suspended all routine visa services amid the ongoing U.S.-Israel war on Iran, with experts warning the closures could create massive backlogs affecting tens of thousands of applicants, including an estimated 550 students with pending F-1, J-1, and M-1 visas.
DEEP DIVE: IMMIGRATION CORNER 🛂
International Students: Read This Before Going "California Sober"
Let's be real — being an international student is stressful. You're navigating a new country, a new academic system, new cultural norms, and an increasingly unpredictable immigration environment. It makes sense that you might be looking for ways to unwind.
And, according to the latest data, so is everyone else.
California Sober, the lifestyle that ditches alcohol and embraces marijuana, is no longer a fringe trend whispered about in yoga studios. It's seen as a "healthier" alternative to unwinding without the throbbing, where-is-my-Advil hangover.
It's a full-blown cultural shift, and Gen Z is leading it. According to national survey data:
49.6% of 18-24 year olds reported drinking alcohol in the past month, down from 59.6% a decade ago.
Roughly 69% of young adults in the same age group say they prefer cannabis to alcohol.
THC drinks, edibles, and vapes are showing up at college parties, in dorm rooms, and increasingly on store shelves where alcohol used to reign supreme.
We get it. No hangovers, no empty calories, and (in many places) totally legal.
But here's the thing: if you're an international student, the rules are different for you — and the stakes are much higher.
First, Let's Talk About the Law Because...It's Complicated
The United States does not have one marijuana law. It has 50 different ones, plus a federal law that overrides all of them.
Woof. I know.
Here's a quick snapshot of how wildly the laws vary:
California & Washington — Fully legal for recreational use for adults 21 and older. Dispensaries operate openly and are taxed like any other business.
Texas — Largely illegal. Limited medical use only, and even possession of small amounts can result in criminal charges.
Alabama — Medical use only, with strict limitations. Recreational use is a criminal offense.
Idaho — One of the strictest states in the country. Marijuana is fully illegal in any form, and even possession of a small amount can result in a misdemeanor or felony charge.
The bottom line: before you do anything, look up the laws in your specific state. What's perfectly legal in Denver could land you in serious trouble in Dallas.
But Not So Fast....Even if It's Legal in Your State
Even if you are in a fully legal state like California or Colorado...this is the part you need to pay close attention to.
Marijuana remains a federally controlled substance under U.S. law.
It is classified as a Schedule I drug — the same category as heroin.
And when it comes to your visa, your immigration status, and any future applications for permanent residency or citizenship, it is federal law — not state law — that governs the decisions made about you.
This means:
Admitting to marijuana use at a port of entry or during a visa interview — even use that was legal in the state where it occurred — can result in your visa being denied or revoked.
A drug-related violation on your record can make you inadmissible to the United States
It can affect your eligibility for future immigration benefits, including a green card.
Immigration attorneys consistently warn that this is one of the most misunderstood areas of law for international students. The fact that your American classmates can freely visit a dispensary does not mean that you can safely do the same.
So...What Should You Do?
I'm not here to lecture you about your personal choices. And I certainly didn't want to cause any more stress.
But the point of this newsletter is to help you stay informed. So while Americans are embracing the "California Sober" lifestyle, just like many other things, you need to think about the benefits and risks.
If you have questions about how marijuana laws might affect your specific visa status or immigration situation, talk to your campus international student advisor or consult an immigration attorney before making any decisions.
Your future in this country is worth protecting. Know the laws in your state, understand the federal risks, and make informed decisions.
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Disclaimer: International Student Voice is not an immigration attorney or immigration advisor. The purpose of this newsletter is strictly educational. Always consult with qualified legal counsel for advice specific to your situation.
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