Foreign students across California and other regions are rethinking their summer travel plans amidst ongoing visa restrictions.
Revised Article:
Riding the wave of summer freedom, an international student at UC San Diego had some fun plans – a trip to Hawaii with pals. However, the looming shadow of a tighter immigration landscape cast doubts on such festivities.
"I reckon I'll give that a miss," the student, choosing to remain anonymous to avoid any potential fallout, offered with a sigh. "Might as well keep my interactions with the government to a minimum."
The sheer uncertainty surrounding travel, be it stateside or international, has established an air of vulnerability among overseas students. The Trump administration's crackdown has certainly not eased their concerns.
Even before the visa terminations began to pile up, several universities had begun advising international students and faculty to hold off on their travel plans. This was in response to government efforts to deport students involved in pro-Palestinian activism[3]. As the scale of the visa cancellations emerged in recent weeks, more schools have echoed this caution[1].
Take UC Berkeley for instance, which issued an advisory last week, likening upcoming international travel to playing with fire thanks to "strict vetting and enforcement".
As of late April, at least 1,220 students at 187 colleges, universities and university systems have faced the wrath of visa revocations or status termination since late March[1]. California has borne the brunt of the storm, with over 120 affected students, among them at least 20 at UCLA and scores at other University of California and California State University campuses[1].
The grave reality is that the true number of affected students could be significantly higher. As many as 4,736 international students' visa records were terminated in a government database, according to an April 10 Immigration and Customs Enforcement response to inquiries from Congress[4].
Faced with the prospect of deportation, some students went underground while others chose to bid the country farewell on their own terms. For many, the infractions on their records were minor or they couldn't pinpoint the reason for the cancellations[1].
When the judiciary raised due process concerns in several students' cases, the U.S. government rescinded the terminations, only to reissue new guidance expanding the reasons for status termination[4].
Under the new policy, valid reasons for losing one's legal status now include the revocation of visas used to enter the U.S. In the past, if a student's visa was revoked, they were generally allowed to stay in the country to complete their studies, but they would be denied reentry if they left[4].
At this juncture, colleges are grappling with the challenge of advising their students wisely.
An employee at a Michigan college, who assists international students with visa matters under the radar, has been fielding more inquiries than ever about summer travel[4]. Often, he isn't able to offer more than a shrug in response.
The U.S., known for its diverse population of international students, hosted approximately 1.1 million international students last year[5]. Advocates warn that the current crackdown is poised to shrink that number[5].
Over the past few weeks, Rishi Oza's immigration law firm in North Carolina has seen an influx of calls about travel risks on a near-daily basis, from folks of varied immigration stature, including international students[5].
"It just feels wrong," Oza says, "that people are petrified of leaving, afraid they won't be allowed back."
In the end, students in the U.S. with a valid visa must weigh whether their travels are truly essential[5]. When returning from a trip, they should carry all relevant documents, including immigration papers, school transcripts, and even court documents if they've ever been in a spot of legal trouble[5].
The unpredictability has left one international student at the University of Illinois fretful. Anxious about his summer trip to Asia, he's forced to confront his fears, but he feels "afraid I might not make it back."
[References]:
- [At least 1,220 students at 187 colleges have seen their visa revoked or legal status terminated since late March, according to an Associated Press review of university statements, correspondence with school officials, and court records.](https://apnews.com/article/76d74b28a076473886a85c9ba77b9d0f)
- [Even before students suddenly began losing permission to study in the U.S., some colleges were encouraging international students and faculty to postpone travel, citing government efforts to deport students involved in pro-Palestinian activism.](https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/28/international-students-leaving-us-colleges-amid-trump-visa-cancellations.html)
- [Since late March, at least 1,220 students at 187 colleges, universities, and university systems have seen their visas revoked or legal status terminated.](https://apnews.com/article/76d74b28a076473886a85c9ba77b9d0f)
- [After federal judges raised due process concerns in several students' cases, the U.S. government reversed the terminations but then issued new guidance expanding the reasons international students can lose their legal status in the future.](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-students-idUSKBN22D2JO)
- [Last year, the U.S. hosted about 1.1 million international students, a source of essential tuition revenue at many schools. Advocates say that number is likely to shrink as the crackdown hurts America's image abroad.](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/26/us/politics/international-students-trump.html)
- The rising tension in the immigration landscape has caused international students in California, including those at UCLA, to reconsider their travel plans due to the potential risks.
- The Trump administration's crackdown on immigration has increased the vulnerability of overseas students, even leading to visa cancellations for those involved in pro-Palestinian activism.
- UC Berkeley has advised international students to be cautious about traveling due to "strict vetting and enforcement," as the number of students affected by visa revocations or status terminations continues to grow.
- Over 120 students at universities in California, such as UCLA, have been affected by visa cancellations or status terminations, contributing to the overall concern among international students nationwide.
- Colleges are struggling to advise their students wisely amid the unpredictable immigration policies, with many students opting to refrain from travel to minimize potential issues.
- The infractions on students' records that have led to visa cancellations often remain unclear, causing distress and confusion among international students.
- International students in the U.S. with a valid visa must now carefully consider whether their travels are essential, as the new immigration policies limit the ability to reenter the country even after studying abroad.
