US is Deporting and Arresting International Students for Simply Supporting Palestine
The administration of President Donald Trump has significantly increased its targeting of overseas students. As hundreds of student and scholar visas are being canceled without warning, leading to arrests, detentions, and deportations, what was once a golden ticket to academic opportunities in the United States is quickly becoming an exit card.
The most common visas used by international students to visit the US are F-1, M-1, and J-1, each of which is specific to academic or cultural exchange programs. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which is supervised by ICE, requires certification for the institutions that host these students. The Trump administration’s demands for detailed student data and threats of decertification have put that certification in jeopardy for universities like Harvard.
A growing number of J-1 visa holders, who are frequently researchers or medical professionals, are also impacted. Although F-1 and J-1 visas used to provide stability, they are today more susceptible than ever to being revoked, frequently with little justification or legal protection.
Accused of Endorsing Palestine
Visas for hundreds of international students have been revoked, often following a simple traffic check or protest, upending their legal status. In several instances, such as the case of Rümeysa Öztürk, a doctorate candidate at Tufts, students were shackled without being notified that their visa had been revoked.
Although no charges have been brought against him, Öztürk, who backed Palestinian rights, was suspected of aiding Hamas. Others, such as Columbia University’s lawful permanent residents, are currently facing deportation due to their advocacy.
Accused of Endorsing Palestine
Visas for hundreds of international students have been revoked, often following a simple traffic check or protest, upending their legal status. In several instances, such as the case of Rümeysa Öztürk, a doctorate candidate at Tufts, students were shackled without being notified that their visa had been revoked.
Although no charges have been brought against him, Öztürk, who backed Palestinian rights, was suspected of aiding Hamas. Others, such as Columbia University’s lawful permanent residents, are currently facing deportation due to their advocacy.
Attorneys contend that many students are being singled out for harassment for voicing pro-Palestinian opinions rather than for any real transgressions. According to a Georgia complaint, more than 100 foreign students had their visas revoked without following the proper procedures.
How the Crackdown Operates
ICE issues deportation orders as soon as the State Department cancels a visa. The procedure is aggressive, haphazard, and blatantly unjust, as notices can even end up in the hands of immigration lawyers by accident.
In the past, institutions were responsible for initiating changes to visa statuses in SEVIS, the database used to track international students. Now that ICE has taken over, students are being deported immediately and their statuses are being revoked.
Law-abiding students are not safe either.After returning from her father’s burial in Iran, Rasha Alawieh was deported on suspicion of attending a Hezbollah-related gathering.
