The Trump administration has recently revoked student visas and terminated students from a tracking system for foreign scholars in the South. Several public and private colleges and universities in the Sun Belt have reported that some of their international students have had their visas revoked or their immigration status changed. Various institutions like Florida International University, Texas A&M, New Mexico State, University of North Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, and Rice University have all experienced changes in their foreign students’ tracking or status.
This crackdown on foreign scholars comes as part of the administration’s efforts to target protesters, particularly those critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza. A former Columbia University postgraduate, Khalil, was arrested and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, with the administration accusing him of supporting Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. Despite Khalil’s claims of being a permanent resident with a green card, ICE agents took him away without producing an arrest warrant.
The Trump administration, supported by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is using an obscure provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act to deport foreign-born activists like Khalil. Rubio has stated that anyone involved in activities aligned to Hamas will have their visas revoked. Khalil is currently challenging his arrest in federal court but has until April 23 to file for relief against deportation.
Overall, the administration’s crackdown on foreign-born students involved in activism has sparked outrage and protests across the nation. Critics argue that the government is silencing free speech and targeting individuals based on their political beliefs rather than any criminal activities.
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