The Secretary of State stated that the State Department has revoked over 300 student visas, targeting foreign-born students who are activists. Many of those detained were part of the pro-Palestinian movement, with at least one appearing on lists created by far-right pro-Israel groups. The detentions are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to clamp down on legal residents, including those with student visas, who participate in unauthorized protests or openly advocate for certain causes. The administration’s deportation policy prioritizes removing people with criminal records or suspected national security threats.
The State Department justifies student deportation proceedings with an immigration provision dating back to the Cold War. Some scholars have already been deported, while others, like Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, have been arrested without clear reasons. The administration is targeting students for activism, with one Ph.D. student detained because of his support for Palestinians in Gaza. Some, like Columbia University student Yunseo Chung, are fighting deportation in court.
Critics argue that targeting students threatens free speech and assembly rights, and some worry that more students could face criminal charges for activism. Colleges are increasingly under pressure to support students facing deportation threats, with Columbia University agreeing to changes in response to Trump’s threats. One student, Ranjani Srinavasan, had her student visa revoked after participating in protests and was forced to leave the U.S. This crackdown on student activism is seen as an effort to suppress speech and could have a chilling effect on free expression.
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