An increasing number of student deportation threats involve the revocation of visas based on relatively minor offenses like years-old misdemeanors, according to immigration attorneys, or sometimes no reason at all.

The federal government has revoked the student visas of five international members of the Rice University community – three current students and two recent graduates, according to the institution. University President Reginald DesRoches confirmed the revocations in a candid letter to students,

Over the past week, nearly 300 full-time international students across the country were informed that their visa status had been revoked.