US: Hundreds of students in the US were directed by the US Department of State to self-deport because of their campus activism. This is one of the actions taken by the Trump administration against international students who take part in protests, particularly those supporting Palestine.
The email, sent by the Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office, notified the students that they had their F-1 visas cancelled due to information that became available after their visas were issued. According to the media reports, students were advised that unauthorised presence in the US would mean being fined, detained, or/deported.
Even students who merely shared related social media posts or liked “anti-national” content may be at risk of losing their visas. An immigration attorney emphasised that students who participated in campus activism, whether physically or online, could face severe consequences, according to the Times of India report.
Consequences for students:
– Withdrawal of F-1 visas: Students involved in protests or posting related materials on social media can have their visas withdrawn.
– Deportation: Any student who continues to stay in the US illegally can be deported at any given time.
– Future US visa ineligibility: Deported students would be ineligible for future US visas.
The Trump administration has initiated an AI-driven “catch and revoke” initiative to detect and deport foreign students in the US who advocate for Hamas or any other terrorist organisations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also released a new app, CBP Home, that enables immigrants to self-deport instead of getting arrested and detained.
As per TOI reports, Immigration lawyers are urging students to consult legal professionals to assist them in reinstating their SEVIS or represent them if removal proceedings are initiated against them.
