Ghanaian students in US face visa problems as tougher rules hit African students  

Many young people who travelled to the U.S. for education are now receiving sudden notices that their visas have been cancelled.

With some given as little as just seven days to leave the country.

Reports from different states show that dozens of students from Ghana and Nigeria have recently been affected.

The development comes following the enforcement of stricter rules to student visa holders by U.S. immigration officials under the second term of President Donald Trump.

Some students have been caught off guard.

In some cases, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have shown up at their dormitories or stopped them in public without any earlier warning, local reports say.

A recent example is a Turkish doctoral student who was arrested days after her visa was cancelled. Authorities accused her of political activity, but her lawyers said she was only speaking up for Palestinian human rights.

For African students, the situation is even more worrying. Many have lost their visas for attending peaceful rallies or after small issues with the law.

In one case, over 100 African students are fighting their visa cancellations in court, saying they were unfairly treated.

Meanwhile, there are calls for Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Scholarship Secretariat to improve support for students abroad, especially those facing emergencies.

Embassies are also being asked to stay in closer contact with students and help them quickly when problems arise.