As Chancellor Reyes has written, “I want to stress how important our international community is to the vitality of our campus and assure every international student and scholar at UMass of our unwavering support as we confront this new reality.” 

In light of recent actions taken by the federal administration, the university has created this page to provide guidance to international students and scholars on UMass sponsored visas who have questions or concerns about the government’s unilateral visa and status revocations. 

Make a Plan That Works For You

1. Monitor the email address you used to apply for your F-1, J-1, or other non-immigrant visa for notifications from the Department of State. Importantly, UMass cannot monitor your visa status. The Office of Global Affairs (OGA) will contact you if your SEVIS record indicates that your student status has been revoked. Contact OGA immediately if a federal agency (or someone claiming to be from a federal agency) has contacted you.
2. While UMass has no indication that its students have had their immigration statuses revoked due to speech or activism, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that the Department of Homeland Security will review the social media and online activity for all immigration benefits. As a result, we recommend considering your public digital profile and social media activity.
3. Get legal guidance. Contact Student Legal Services and/or find a personal attorney.
4. Know your rights. Read guidance from the National Immigration Law Center or watch the "Know Your Rights" (use the password =&QUbv+6). Note: This webinar was recorded prior to the current trend of visa/status revocations.
5. Need financial support? The UMass Amherst Angel Fund was created to help students experiencing unexpected financial emergencies due to changes in federal immigration policy. 

Be Prepared for Emergencies 

Keep these items with you at all times:

• A printed copy of the Know Your Rights Red Card
• Copies of documents that identify you and your immigration status.
• Passport with valid visa stamp (if applicable)
• A copy of your most recent I-94 or I-95  
• A copy of your up to date:
  • I-94 or I-95
  • I-20 (F-1 holders)
  • DS-2019 (J-1 holders)
  • I-797 approval notice (H-1B holders)
• A copy of valid driver’s license or state ID, if applicable
• A copy of your U Card

Have these numbers saved in your phone and carry a paper copy with you: 

• Student Legal Services (for students only): (413) 545-1995
• UMass Amherst Police Departmet: (413) 545-3111
• Office of Global Affairs: (413) 545-2710
• Your local law enforcement agency if you live off-campus
• Your personal attorney (if applicable)
   

Frequently Asked Questions

What support will I get if my status is revoked?  
If the Office of Global Affairs becomes aware of a student’s status being revoked, they will immediately reach out to the student to offer tailored, individual support. This includes connecting them with the Dean of Students and Student Legal Services as well as academic leadership who can provide guidance and academic support. Because each student’s needs are different, there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

What should I do if I am contacted by a federal agency regarding my immigration status?
Call the Office of Global Affairs (OGA) immediately for guidance and support if you receive any communication that appears to be from a federal agency regarding your visa or immigration status.

If you are on campus and someone comes to your door claiming to be from a federal agency, call the University of Massachusetts Police Department (UMPD) at (413) 545-3111. If you are off campus and someone comes to your door claiming to be from a federal agency, call your local police department. 

What should I do if I am taken into custody?
If you are taken into custody on campus, call UMPD dispatch at (413) 545-3111 or ask a bystander to do so on your behalf. If you are taken into custody off-campus, contact your local police department, then notify UMPD at (413) 545-3111. Contact Student Legal Services—or a personal attorney, if you have one—for support.

How can I find legal support?
Students can Call Student Legal Services (SLS) at (413) 545-1995. SLS offers free, confidential legal advice for fee-paying UMass Amherst students and student groups. The university is working with Student Legal Services to explore external partnerships for expanded, emergency immigration-related legal support for international students. Updates will be shared on the Federal Actions Page. You can also find a personal attorney who can offer legal advice.

How can I get emergency financial assistance?
The Angel Fund provides emergency grants to enrolled undergraduate and graduate students facing unexpected financial hardships due to changes in federal immigration policy.

What should I do if I want to travel?
Consider postponing any non-critical or non-essential travel.  If you must travel, please follow OGA’s travel advice.

Why is the federal government revoking student visas and canceling student statuses? 
Like universities around the country, UMass Amherst is still working to understand the reasons behind visa revocations. The government has provided minimal or no explanation, and the university is not aware of any pattern in visa and status revocations. 

Has UMass shared any data or information to the federal government that may have led to these revocations?
Absolutely not. UMass has never – and will never – voluntarily give or offer any protected student or employee records to the federal government (or any party). Ever. Additionally, UMass Amherst has no evidence that these visa revocations have any connections whatsoever to any information the university is legally required to share with the federal government.  

Who can I speak with about stress or anxiety?
The Center for Counseling and Psychological Health (CCPH) can help you if you’re dealing with stress or anxiety. Call their confidential crisis hotline at 413-545-2337 or drop-in during their open hours.

As a public institution, UMass is bound by state and federal laws, which do not require that the university share private student or employee information—including immigration status—unless compelled to do so by a court order and only after rigorous legal review.

Under Massachusetts law, public safety officials (including UMPD) do not have the authority to and will not detain an individual based solely on a federal civil immigration detainer (ICE Detainer). Responsibility for enforcement of federal immigration law rests with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, not with local or campus law enforcement agencies. 

Additionally, UMPD stands by its policy to not specifically request information about the citizenship or immigration status of anyone with whom officers interact. Students, faculty, and staff should not feel compelled to share immigration and citizenship status information. 

Resources 

• The Office of General Counsel has made a recording of "Know Your Rights: A Discussion on Immigration" with the Office of Refugees and Immigrants Attorney Susan Church available. Use the passcode =&QUbv+6.
• The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General has shared guidance to public colleges and universities related to immigration, including advice on responding to immigration officers
• Free, confidential legal advice for students is available through the Student Legal Services Office at (413) 545-1995.
• The Immigration Advocates Network Legal Directory lists legal services providers by state, county, or detention facility. Only nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost immigration legal services are included in this directory.
• The City of Boston provides free legal immigration consultations.
• Know your rights. Print out and carry a Know Your Rights Red Card in multiple languages.
• The National Immigrant Justice Center provides guidance around the expedited removal program.
• The National Immigration Law Center
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

If you receive an inquiry or request via phone, e-mail, or other correspondence from a law enforcement or government agency, take the following steps.

Faculty and Staff must follow this guidance, provided by the Office of General Counsel and can find answers to frequently asked questions in this FAQ. If you are an employee of UMass Amherst and receive an in-person visit from a government agent or law enforcement officer (Agent), inform all Agents that the University of Massachusetts (University) prioritizes cooperation with law enforcement and government agencies. Inform the Agent(s) that you are not authorized to provide information or accept service of any document. Inform the Agent(s) that you are required to contact the University’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC) at 774-570-2123 and, in the event of a criminal warrant or investigation, the University of Massachusetts Police Department (UMPD) at (413) 545-3111.

Importantly, employees are NOT authorized to:

1. Provide any information about any University student or employee to any Agent unless OGC has specifically authorized you to do so, as doing so may be a violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) and/or the Massachusetts Fair Information Practices Act (“FIPA”) and/or other applicable federal or state law. This includes, but is not limited to, providing any personal information about a student or employee, or confirming that any person is a University student or employee.
2. Allow an Agent into any non-public campus space without timely advising your Campus Public Safety or Police Department Police who will then inform OGC of the event. 

Students should contact Student Legal Services at (413) 545-1995 or a personal attorney for legal guidance. Students who receive an inquiry or visit from federal law enforcement also should notify the University of Massachusetts Police Department (UMPD) at (413) 545-3111. Students should not call the University's Office of General Counsel, as it cannot provide legal advice to students. 

UMass Amherst receives federal financial support in two major areas: student aid funding and non-aid funding. In fiscal year 24 (FY24), this amounted to more than $322 million. 

The first area, student aid funding, includes Pell Grants, work-study funding, and federally-backed loans. These funds, distributed under the Department of Education via Title IV of the Higher Education Act, provided more than $143 million in FY24 to UMass Amherst students. 

The second area of federal funding, totaling nearly $179.7 million in FY24, relates primarily to research funding that directly support UMass’ mission and standing as an R1 university attracting the highest quality faculty and students from across the Commonwealth and beyond. This amount includes funding from federal agencies (e.g. Health and Human Services, Transportation, Agriculture, etc.) to support groundbreaking research across the curriculum, including $43 million in direct support for salary and fringe benefits (an equivalent of nearly 300 faculty positions). Also included is approximately $26 million to support graduate student tuition and stipends. 

Resources

The Office of Financial Aid

The Office of Research and Engagement 
 

The Stonewall Center provides support, resources, programming, and advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA), and allied students, staff, and faculty at UMass Amherst and for the larger Pioneer Valley.

Importantly, while the federal definition of sex discrimination under Title IX regulations no longer includes gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, Massachusetts law prohibits discrimination and harassment based on gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation. The University of Massachusetts Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Interpersonal Violence incorporates and retains these protections.

Resources

The Stonewall Center maintains a comprehensive list of resources, including support for legal name changes on university and government documents. Contact the Stonewall Center at (413) 545-4824. 

The University of Massachusetts Amherst, as a public land-grant institution, has a responsibility to provide access and opportunities for all people while demonstrating our commitment to inclusion of historically underrepresented groups. We believe that a culturally diverse campus is integral to academic excellence and that our students, faculty, and staff should reflect the diverse world in which we live. The Office of Equity and Inclusion oversees both equity and inclusion efforts and the university’s equal opportunity and engagement compliance (including Title VI and Title IX).

Importantly, while the federal definition of sex discrimination under Title IX regulations no longer includes gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, Massachusetts law prohibits discrimination and harassment based on gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation. The University of Massachusetts Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Interpersonal Violence incorporates and retains these protections.

Title VI and Title IX Resources 
The Equal Opportunity and Access Office provides resources, reporting, and information on Title IX processes and investigations.  

Climate and Bias Reporting 

If you or someone you know has experienced an act of mistreatment, bias, or discrimination, please report it and get support. Reporting these acts enables us to track incidents, observe patterns, and take corrective steps.  

Equity and Inclusion Resources 

The Office of Equity and Inclusion maintains a list of resources, including educational opportunities and grants, aimed at building a community and climate rooted in equity and inclusion.  

News

• The Attorney General of Massachusetts has issued guidance to ensure K-12 schools, colleges, and universities across the nation understand the legality, viability, and importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility policies and practices in education.
• The Attorney General and Governor of Massachusetts have released guidance supporting Massachusetts’ higher education and K-12 institutions in their work to further equal access and representation in education in response to recent Executive Orders by President Trump and a U.S. Department of Education “Dear Colleague” letter dated February 14, 2025.
• The Attorney General of Massachusetts has issued guidance that emphasizes the legality and importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
• On January 31, 2025, the Attorney General of Massachusetts issued a joint statement addressing executive orders dismantling DEIA initiatives. 

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services provides advising and immigration services support to UMass' diverse international community of students and scholars on UMass-sponsored visas. Information on current travel advisories and support for international students and scholars can be found on the Office of Global Affairs website. Contact the Office of Global Affairs at (413) 545-2710. 

In FY24, UMass received nearly $179.7 million in federal research funding. This funding directly support UMass’ mission and standing as an R1 university attracting the highest quality faculty and students from across the Commonwealth and beyond. This amount includes funding from federal agencies (e.g. Health and Human Services, Transportation, Agriculture, etc.) to support groundbreaking research across the curriculum, including $43 million in direct support for salary and fringe benefits (an equivalent of nearly 300 faculty positions). Also included is approximately $26 million to support graduate student tuition and stipends. 

For detailed news and updates on federal funding as it pertains to research and engagement, visit the Office of Research and Engagement.