The Trump administration has revoked student visas for foreign students who have been vocal about their opposition to Israel’s strikes on Gaza. This policy has now spread to the South, with public and private colleges in the Sun Belt region reporting that some of their students have had their visas revoked. Texas A&M University and Florida International University have seen a significant number of students lose their visas, with other institutions also affected.
The revocation of visas by the Trump administration has extended beyond New York City, the Ivy League, and New England colleges to states like Texas, Florida, and North Carolina. The political implications of this policy remain unclear. Secretary of State Marco Rubio estimated that 300 foreign scholars had their visas revoked last month.
The revocation policy gained attention when a former Columbia University postgraduate was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents outside his home for leading student protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza. His arrest and continued detention have sparked protests across the nation, with critics accusing the administration of silencing free speech.
The Trump administration justifies the deportations by claiming that the students are aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. Immigration judges have ruled in favor of deportation, despite arguments from the students’ legal teams. The administration’s crackdown on foreign students has sparked concern among university representatives and advocates for free speech. The revocation of student visas has essentially terminated the legal status of these students in the country.
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