Courtesy of Charles Edward Miller
People protesting against unlawful deportations.On March 8, Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, a key figure in the university’s pro-Palestine movement, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the lobby of his university-owned apartment. Khalil, originally from Egypt, came to the US on a student visa to pursue his education at Columbia. His offense: participating in and organizing pro-Palestine protests on campus. As of late May, he remains detained in a prison in Louisiana, while the rest of his class has already graduated.
Just weeks later on March 27, Aditya Wahyu Harsono, a graduate of Southwest Minnesota State University, was arrested by ICE agents at his workplace days after his student visa was revoked without his knowledge. Despite having a pending green card application through his wife — a U.S. citizen — and working legally, Harsono was detained without prior notice. He had previously expressed support for causes like Black Lives Matter and Palestinian rights. After being detained for two months, Harsono was finally released on May 15.
On April 14, Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi, a prominent advocate for the pro-Palestine movement, was detained while trying to complete his citizenship interview. Mahdawi was significantly involved with on-campus activism in the spring of last year, when he organized multiple pro-Palestine protests. As in Harsono’s case, a federal judge demanded his release from prison, and he was able to walk at his graduation.
Unfortunately, this has been a growing trend among college students with student visas. Since mid-March, visas have been revoked for 901 students across 128 colleges and universities. The pattern points to an alarming violation of free speech protections, as immigration enforcement actions increasingly appear to target students who speak out on politically sensitive issues like Palestinian rights. It seems like International students are being punished not for violations of immigration law but for exercising their constitutional right to protest and engage in political expression.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has abused his authority by using student visa revocations as a tool against foreign students supporting pro-Palestine movements. By doing so, the U.S. government is effectively associating peaceful Palestine activism with extremist support for Hamas, a tactic that stifles free speech.
In a recent escalation of this alarming trend, on May 21, President Trump attempted to ban all international students from attending Harvard. Over 27% of Harvard’s population are international students, so this action would severely impact every aspect of the university, including its finances. Harvard fought back with a lawsuit, saying the decision was an unfair way to backlash at previous Harvard protests, which violates free speech and academic freedom. A federal judge has temporarily blocked Trump’s action, but the incident shows the increasing vulnerability of international students under this administration and the pressing need for universities to protect them.
Trump’s attacks on Harvard and other independent universities reveal a deeper agenda, to control institutions that challenge his authority and promote critical thinking. By seeking power over who is admitted, Trump aims to turn universities into political tools rather than places of learning. Letting a president control academic policy would take away the freedom to think and speak openly, silence opposing views and turn education into a tool for spreading political agendas.
In order to shield students from deportation threats, universities like Columbia and Harvard must not only provide legal support but also take a public stand against the abuse of federal power. International students have constitutional protections while in the United States, including the right to free speech. The Trump administration’s efforts to intimidate and silence international students must be challenged head-on in court. Institutions should immediately expand legal clinics focused on immigration and civil rights, increase funding for emergency aid for at-risk students and implement mandatory faculty and staff training on handling ICE encounters. They should also issue public statements defending their independence and fight against any government attempt to control enrollment.
One example of a university that has done its best to protect their students’ rights is the University of Maryland (UMD). UMD has raised money through GoFundMe to support international students vulnerable to ICE. Their Student Government Association launched a Know Your Rights program, expanded their student crisis fund and trained faculty on what to do when ICE appears on campus.
By creating a campus environment that actively supports political expression and defends students against ICE retaliation, these institutions can help prevent these vulnerable students from being targeted or detained in the first place.
