There are more than 6,000 international students at NC State from 120 different countries, many of them on visas, however two students had their lives turned upside down last week, and were forced to rush to get a flight back home, thousands of miles away.
"My roommate came out of his room with a shocked distraught look on his face," said NC State Senior Philip Vasto.
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Then Vasto said his roommate started to panic.
"He just got of the phone with the school and the school told him the state department revoked his visa but didn't provide a reason whatsoever," Vasto said.
Saleh Al Gurad packed up in a day, and flew back to Saudi Arabia at the advice of his family, and attorneys. He just got to the U.S. and started studying at NC state 5 months ago.
"If he remained here he could be subject to detainment by ICE," Vasto said.
The terminations come after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday that the State Department had revoked more than 300 student visas. Vasto said his roommate never communicated with the federal government directly just NC State.
"He had only a few days to get ready to leave the country," Vasto said.
He was working to get his masters in engineering and also was a campus dining employee.
NC State confirms that a second student, who Vasto said is also from Saudi Arabia, had their visa terminated too.
The university issued this response after news spread thru out the international student body:
"NC State did not initiate these terminations, and was not directly notified of the changes. We are deeply concerned about the lack of communication, from federal agencies and the impact of these actions on our international students."
"I'm just flabbergasted its a disgrace," Vasto said.
Several statements have been made following the announcement of the two students having their student visa revoked including NC State's Muslim Students Association.
In the statement posted on Instagram, the organization pointed out the two students were both studying international engineering.
"We are deeply saddened and outraged by the recent forced departure of two NC State students whose student visas were unjustly terminated," the statement read in part.
The statement went on to say the student organization is calling for full transparency into the process leading to the students visas being revoked and calls for their reinstatement. They call on university administrators, state leaders and federal officials to ensure safety, respect and freedom for international students.
Congresswoman Deborah Ross also released a statement following the two students having their visas revoked in a post on X.
"With no explanation, the Trump admin revoked the visas of 2 NC State students & hundreds of other students around the country. Immigration enforcement actions should be focused on criminals – not young people with visas who are trying to get an education."
The State Department also provided a statement in response to WRAL's questions:
Due to privacy considerations, and visa confidentiality, we generally will not comment on Department actions with respect to specific cases. The United States has zero tolerance for non-citizens who violate U.S. laws. Those who break the law, including students, may face visa refusal, visa revocation, and/or deportation. The Department of State will continue to work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to administer and enforce U.S. visas and immigration laws. Every prospective traveler to the United States undergoes extensive interagency security vetting. All visa applicants, no matter the visa type and where they are located, are continuously vetted. Security vetting runs from the time of each application, through adjudication of the visa, and afterwards during the validity period of every issued visa, to ensure the individual remains eligible to travel to the United States. US State Department spokesperson