Trump’s America makes students do a rethink. While some look for alternative destinations, those who have got admission are scrubbing social media profiles.
Tara had long dreamt of a life in New York. But this year, when she got into graduate school programs in the US, it was not relief and a sense of achievement she felt, but a pang of anxiety. “When I was applying last year, the US was high in terms of options for me. But I just can’t justify going. I’m not an activist I post political content on social media.” “But this is enough to get people deported. I don’t want to be scared all the time thinking whether I’ll wake up to an email if I like an Instagram post.” Instead, she is choosing options in the UK and Europe, both of which far less precious to her.
Over the last few weeks, immigrant students have been subject to visa revocations, leaving them with little choice but to self-deport. Some were identified for their participation in pro-Palestinian protest, but increasingly, relatively minor infractions such as speeding tickets and DUIs are leading to visa revocations. About 1,500 international students have had their F-1 and J-1 visas revoked thus far, according to Higher Ed, a publication tracking the phenomenon. The American Immigration Lawyers Association analyzed 327 cases of revocations, and found 50% were of Indian students.
“The current political climate in the US has introduced new anxieties and uncertainties. Students are rethinking their plans or thinking of precautions. Some are planning to defer their admissions for a year, in the hope there’s more clarity by then,”
A lot of students are withdrawing their applications from the US and shifting their focus to the UK and Europe. “When you’re sending a child abroad, you can’t have them thrown out of the country or worry that if they come for holidays, they may not be able to re-enter the US, referring to certain colleges advising international students not to leave the country during the upcoming spring break.
Part of the uncertainty pertains to a bill introduced in the US Congress that aims to end the Optional Practical Training program which allows students to work in the country.
“They’re obviously anxious because once they’ve spent that much money on an education and taken loans, they’re looking for return on investment and that means jobs. That’s long been the case in the US and elsewhere in the developed world. But now, there’s a paucity of jobs and preference is being given to local citizens as opposed to foreigners. This is also causing a decoupling of academic and professional outcomes.”
Student visa forms ask about one’s social media accounts, leaving some concerned.
“In the social sciences, your work requires some amount of academic freedom, openness and security, which you don’t know is guaranteed anymore. Your department or college can only do so much if immigration steps in.
“The whole purpose of university is to expand your horizons, your thinking, have new experiences, but that’s not possible without the freedom of expression. Do you really want to study in an environment where you’re scared all the time?”
