Visa Revocations and Self-Deportations: The Impact of U.S. Immigration Policies on Scholars

Deportation Fears Intensify: Academic Communities Navigate Unprecedented Challenges

The immigration policies implemented under the Trump administration have created significant anxiety among college students and faculty, particularly as spring break approaches. Many are apprehensive about travelling internationally, fearing deportation or being barred from re-entering the United States. These concerns are exacerbated by what experts describe as unprecedented actions, leading to heightened uncertainty regarding immigration enforcement.

In March, two incidents highlighted the growing unease. A physician from Brown University had her visa revoked while attempting to return to the U.S. from Lebanon. Similarly, an Indian PhD student at Columbia University chose to self-deport to Canada following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid on her apartment. These situations exemplify the challenges international students and academics face under the current immigration policies.

Responding to these concerns, several universities have issued travel advisories. Brown University, for instance, urged its faculty, students, and community members with visas or permanent residency to refrain from international travel during spring break. Similarly, Columbia University and Cornell University issued comparable warnings. Last year, many universities advised international students to return to the U.S. before President Trump's inauguration, underscoring the ongoing impact of immigration policies on academic communities. Russell C. Carey, executive vice president for planning and policy at Brown University, noted that reports of federal deportation actions against non-U.S. citizens have caused widespread anxiety within the university community. These advisories follow incidents of visa revocations and heightened deportations, fueled by President Trump's executive order on national security. The potential travel ban, which could affect citizens from 41 countries, including Iran, Syria, Cuba, and Afghanistan, has further intensified concerns.

Moreover, Brown University highlighted the potential consequences of evolving travel restrictions, visa processing changes, and re-entry requirements, emphasising that even domestic travel may be uncertain. This situation has caused alarm among the 1.12 million international students studying in the U.S., who fear being targeted based on their nationality. Losing their visas could result in forfeiting years of academic work and limit their ability to travel for personal or academic purposes. For instance, a 21-year-old master's student at Columbia University shared that the current situation has significantly disrupted their plans. While they had intended to visit their family in India after graduation, they cancelled the trip due to fears of being unable to return. The student is now urgently searching for housing and employment, as they are required to remain in the U.S. and are soon to be evicted from their student housing.

Another case involved Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese physician at Brown University, who was deported on March 13 after being interrogated at Boston Logan Airport about possible ties to Hezbollah. Her U.S. visa was cancelled, and she was issued a five-year entry ban. Similarly, Ranjani Srinivasan, a doctoral candidate at Columbia University, self-deported to Canada after her F-1 visa was revoked on March 5. Srinivasan's visa cancellation stemmed from her social media posts on the Israel-Hamas conflict and her participation in an open letter advocating for liberation, which the Department of Homeland Security interpreted as support for Hamas. These incidents have prompted universities to closely monitor the situation. Cornell University, for example, acknowledged that the list of affected countries and restrictions may change at short notice. Additionally, many students, concerned about their safety, have altered their behaviour. Some have made their social media accounts private, while others anxiously await updates on their Optional Practical Training (OPT) applications, which would allow them to remain in the U.S. after graduation.

Reflecting on these challenges, students have expressed frustration over the lack of empathy and basic humanity in immigration enforcement. They emphasised that the rights to protest, express oneself, and travel freely are universal human rights that should not depend on nationality. In conclusion, the current immigration landscape continues to pose significant challenges for international students and faculty, forcing many to navigate an uncertain and increasingly restrictive environment.

Editor’s Note:

The Trump administration’s immigration policies have created fear and uncertainty for international students and academics, making life in the U.S. more difficult for those who came here to learn and contribute. Students now have to choose between their education and the very real threat of deportation or being unable to return because of shifting immigration rules. The experiences of Brown University’s Rasha Alawieh and Columbia University’s Ranjani Srinivasan show the personal toll these policies take. The ongoing attack on the rights of non-citizens and the suppression of free speech is a clear violation of the values America says it stands for. It’s upsetting that students live in fear that speaking out, protesting, or even visiting family could cost them their visa and their future. Everyone should have the right to study, express their views, and move freely, regardless of their nationality or politics. 

At Skoobuzz, we believe the U.S. needs to rethink its immigration policies. The situation isn’t just a legal issue; it’s about fairness, humanity, and basic human rights.