Over the past several weeks, numerous international students residing in the U.S. have observed a recurring pattern on their social media platforms: undercover officials showing up unexpectedly and taking these students away in non-descript vehicles to holding facilities.
The students who were detained in several prominent incidents caught on camera haven’t encountered any criminal accusations. Instead, they seem to have been singled out due to their participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at universities.
The Trump administration has consistently stated that visas are a “privilege” and may be canceled anytime.
a broad range of factors
.
However, the clampdown seems to extend well beyond initial estimates, affecting over 1,000 international students or new alumni from universities throughout the US whose visas have been canceled or who have experienced changes in their legal status. This information comes from a monitor provided by Inside Higher Ed, an online publication focused on this field.
For numerous individuals, these specific reasons remain unclear, and universities frequently discover such alterations solely when they consult a government-maintained database that records the visa statuses of foreign students.
The combination of targeted detentions and reports of wide-scale visa revocations have left campuses on edge, from the biggest public universities to elite Ivy League institutions, students and faculty told the WARNEWS.
“One of us might be next,” stated a student visa holder enrolled at Georgetown University, who has authored pieces on Israel and the conflict in Gaza.
He has started keeping a card in his pocket that outlines his constitutional rights, just in case he gets stopped by law enforcement.
A different student from Texas mentioned that he feels terrified about venturing out of his apartment, not even wanting to go shopping for essentials like food.
And at some colleges, departments are being hit as researchers abroad refuse to return to the US.
Many of the students who spoke with WARNEWS asked for privacy fearing that being identified in the press might make them vulnerable to targeted actions.
The WARNEWShas contacted the
Department of Education
for comment.
The reasons for
visa cancellations vary
In certain situations, criminal history seems to play a role. Some examples involve minor offenses such as speeding violations. However, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, many individuals who were targeted had participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
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It is a component of
wider White House push
To take strict action against protesters who officials claim made the atmosphere unsafe for Jewish students at numerous universities. Additionally, they allege that these demonstrators showed backing for Hamas, which is recognized as a terrorist organization.
Each time I encounter one of these crazies, I revoke their visas,” Rubio stated to journalists in late March. “This happens daily.”
Groups advocating civil liberties have voiced objections to the detention and proposed deportation of student protesters, claiming these actions infringe upon constitutional rights. Meanwhile, the students deny links to Hamas, asserting that they are being unfairly singled out for engaging in political discourse regarding the conflict in Gaza and U.S. backing of Israel.
At Georgetown University, messages like “shield our students” have been placed on the inside doors of restroom stalls, casting an air of solemnity over the cherry blossoms and tulips that usually signify the onset of spring at the institution.
A University-based postdoc,
Badar Khan Suri
In March, he was apprehended by federal agents at his residence in Virginia. The Department of Homeland Security alleged that the conflict resolution specialist was involved in “propagating anti-Jewish sentiments online” and had associations with an individual or group labeled as terrorists.
- The US detained an Indian academic due to his father-in-law’s association with Hamas.
- U.S. court halts deportation of researcher at Georgetown University
This was an apparent reference to the Palestinian father of his US-born wife, a former adviser to killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Mr Suri’s lawyers say he has only met his father-in-law a handful of times and is being targeted due to his wife’s identity.
His arrest came after that of the organizer of the Columbia University student protests.
Mahmoud Khalil
, a permanent resident who was apprehended at their residence in New York but is currently
awaiting deportation
from a location in Louisiana.
Tufts University graduate student
Rumeysa Ozturk
The individual who co-wrote an opinion piece for a college newspaper regarding Gaza and was arrested in Massachusetts is now being detained in Louisiana as well.
Last Monday,
Mohsen Mahdawi
Another protester from Columbia University was arrested in Vermont when he went for an interview to acquire U.S. citizenship. Similar to Mr. Khalil, this individual possesses a green card instead of a student visa.
“I believe there is a chance that anybody who has spoken out about Palestine could be detained, based on the detentions we’ve observed,” stated the Georgetown University student acquainted with Mr. Suri.
The White House says
It targets individuals who engage in actions deemed contrary to U.S. national interests. Regarding Mr. Khalil, authorities invoked a 1952 statute allowing the deportation of anyone whose presence might adversely affect America’s international relations.
On a post on X, the Columbia Jewish Alumni Association celebrated Mr Khalil’s arrest, referring to him as the “mastermind behind the disorder” at the university.
According to polls, President Trump has received high approval ratings for his approach to immigration, which is one of the areas where he performs best. Recent surveys conducted by Reuters and AP-NORC indicate that roughly half of U.S. adults support his actions regarding this matter, placing these figures slightly above his general approval rates.
This week, the White House’s task force focused on fighting antisemitism has put on hold more than $2 billion in funding for universities as they face targeting at an institutional level.
Harvard University
, after the university refused to agree to a list of demands that it said would amount to “surrendering its independence”.
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- The Trump administration warns Harvard of potential restrictions on international students.
Government officials under Trump have stated that should Harvard fail to respond to their inquiry regarding specific visa holders, they will halt the issuance of visas to future international students wishing to attend the university.
Nader Hashemi, a Georgetown University professor, stated that he thinks the primary objective of the authorities is to “suppress opposition” through the intimidation of potential demonstrators.
The Georgetown student mentions that he has requested his parents not to travel from India to the U.S. for his graduation in a few weeks, where he will receive a master’s degree. He remains uncertain about whether he’ll participate in the commencement itself.
Aside from verifying his emails each day to check if he’s one of the many whose visas have been canceled lately, he has also gotten ready for the potential of an unexpected arrest.
He mentioned that he has cleaned up his chat history across various messaging platforms and also figured out how to swiftly activate the SOS mode on his phone.
Professors at Georgetown have started providing extra rooms for students who fear potential visits from immigration officials at their homes, according to Professor Hashemi.
“These are some of the traumas that I believe students are experiencing,” he stated.
At Tufts University, outside of Boston, Massachusetts, students are waiting to see what happens to Ms Ozturk, who was detained outside her home.
Video shows
her confused and shaking in fear as she is intercepted by agents while headed to a Ramadan dinner celebration. Last year, she had co-authored an op-ed supporting the boycott, divest and sanction (BDS) movement against Israel.
Tufts PhD student Anteri Mejr told the WARNEWSthat the actions have had a “chilling effect”, and that international students she knows who have left the country to visit home or attend conferences are now afraid to return.
“There are students working remotely because they’re afraid they can’t get back in the country,” he said.
At the University of Texas, rumors about potential ICE raids on campus are causing fear among some students.
“A graduate student told me, ‘I’m terrified of being outside. I’m afraid to attend classes. I’m nervous about going grocery shopping,’ ” she explained.
“I’m worried that if I walk around, I might be confronted by undercover agents dressed inconspicuously,” he went on.
Even though he is a green card holder and hasn’t participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at school, he admits to experiencing “debilitating stress” due to criticisms he’s directed towards the president.
He questioned how deeply this administration investigates an immigrant’s background,” he said. “And what if I made a statement without knowing it could be problematic?
