Student visas for foreign students who have spoken out against Israel’s strikes on Gaza are being revoked by the Trump administration, spreading beyond the Northeast to the South. Schools across the Sun Belt, including Texas A&M and Florida International University, have reported students losing their visas. The revocation policy was brought to light when a former Columbia University postgraduate was arrested by ICE agents outside his home due to his revoked visa. His ongoing detention has sparked protests nationwide over concerns of due process and free speech suppression.
The Trump administration has targeted foreign-born students who have been vocal in their activism against Israel, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio estimating that around 300 scholars have had their visas revoked. The administration claims the authority to deport these individuals based on their alleged ties to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. However, some argue there is insufficient evidence to support these claims.
The abrupt revocation of visas has caught universities off guard, with some learning about the status of their students through the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. This termination of legal status for these students has had a significant impact on higher education institutions across the country. Critics see these actions as part of a broader effort to stifle dissent and suppress speech that the administration disagrees with.
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