So, like, this international student at the University of California, San Diego was all set to go to Hawaii with some friends during their summer break from a Ph.D. program, right? But then, after seeing other international students in the U.S. losing their legal status, they were like, “Nope, not worth the risk.” Traveling anywhere, even within the U.S., just seemed too sketchy, you know?
This student, who wanted to stay anonymous because they were lowkey scared of being targeted, was like, “I’m gonna pass on that trip to avoid dealing with the government as much as possible.” International students who were thinking about traveling to see family, go on vacation, or do some research were second-guessing themselves because of the Trump administration’s crackdown, which made them feel even more vulnerable.
Even before students started getting their study permissions taken away out of nowhere, some colleges were telling international students and faculty to hold off on traveling. They were like, “Yo, the government is trying to deport students who are into pro-Palestinian stuff.” And now that we know more about how many students are losing their status, more schools are advising international students not to travel unless it’s super necessary.
Like, University of California, Berkeley was like, “Yo, traveling internationally right now is risky ’cause they’re gonna check you hardcore.” Over 1,200 students at almost 200 schools have had their visas canceled or their legal status cut since late March. But the real number is prob way higher. Like, a government database showed that almost 5,000 international students had their visa records terminated.
Some students who were suddenly at risk of getting deported went into hiding, while others bounced on their own. A bunch of them were like, “I didn’t even do anything wrong, what the heck?” And then, after some judges were like, “Uh, where’s the fairness?” the government was like, “My bad, we’ll fix it.” But then they came up with new rules that could make it even easier to kick out international students in the future.
Colleges are struggling to help students figure out what to do. An employee at a Michigan college who helps international students with visas said they’re getting asked a ton about summer travel. But they’re having a hard time giving solid answers.
Last year, the U.S. had around 1.1 million international students, which brings in a lot of cash for schools. But if this crackdown keeps up, that number might drop ’cause who wants to deal with all this drama, you know?
A law firm in North Carolina has been getting calls almost every day about travel risks from people with different immigration statuses, including international students. The lawyer there was like, “Is this really the kind of country we wanna be?” It’s pretty messed up that people are scared to leave and not know if they can come back.
International students with visas in the U.S. gotta really think about whether their travels are super necessary, according to the lawyer. And when they come back after leaving, they should bring a bunch of documents to prove they’re cool to be here. But even then, there’s no telling what could go down at the airport.
One international student at the University of Illinois is majorly stressed ’cause one of their friends had to dip after losing their legal status. They’re planning to go back to their home country in Asia this summer, but they’re freaking out about what’s gonna happen when they try to come back. They already bought their ticket, so they’re committed, but the anxiety is real.
“I’m kinda scared I won’t be able to come back,” they said.
