International PhD students make emergency plans in fear of US immigration raids
a year ago
- #student_protests
- #immigration
- #academic_freedom
- US immigration officials are detaining and deporting international students and scholars, alleging their involvement in protests against Israel’s war in Gaza threatens national security.
- Faculty organizations filed a lawsuit on 25 March challenging these actions, citing violations of constitutional free speech rights.
- Students and professors are taking precautions, such as crafting contingency plans for potential detention.
- An executive order signed by Trump on 30 January called for deporting alleged student 'sympathizers' of Hamas, leading to visa revocations for at least 300 students.
- High-profile cases include detentions of pro-Palestinian activists like Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk, held in a Louisiana detention center.
- The lawsuit argues that the administration’s actions could extend to targeting opinions on other issues like climate policy.
- Some detentions, like that of Kseniia Petrova, seem unrelated to Gaza protests, raising questions about the administration’s motives.
- The White House and US Department of State have not responded to requests for comment on the detentions.