The group included OPT and STEM-OPT students, all from Dallas, the student said. During the trip, immigration officials asked them to show their Form I-20, an official document issued by a U.S. school or university to an international student admitted to the F-1 program, as well as an OPT card and other immigration documents.
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“My OPT was recently approved, but I have not yet received the physical card. The officer asked me to open the USCIS portal and show approval. They left after about 30 minutes,” the report said.
The student said two friends in the group were working and were asked to provide additional evidence of their employment.
“Two of my friends are working and the officer asked them to show their Outlook or Teams office to prove they are currently working. I did not have a physical copy of my I-20 with me. The officer told me that this was a serious problem and that it could be considered a crime. They asked us a lot of questions about our college and other details,” the student wrote.
The student added that international students must carry immigration documents, including Form I-20, OPT card, passport and a copy of visa, even when traveling to a neighboring state.
How did social media react?
Users of social networks said that such checks are common in areas located near the US-Mexico or US-Canada borders.
“Yes, it is quite common in New Mexico because it is where a lot of research is done. And it’s very close to the border, so be prepared for any such checks,” one user wrote.
“If you visit any city with a 100-mile border with Mexico or Canada, be prepared to show identification. There’s nothing new about this,” another user said.
The report comes as the US administration is tightening controls on OPT and its use as a route to H-1B visas. Immigration experts also advised caution about domestic travel as ICE increased its presence at airports.