Chicago – April 08, 2025
In recent weeks, several international students have faced actions from immigration agents, including detention and questioning about their legal status.
Rumeysa Öztürk, a graduate student from Turkey, was taken by agents in plainclothes while walking to meet friends. She believes she was targeted because of an opinion piece she wrote about Gaza for the Tufts University student newspaper.
Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University, was arrested in his university housing even though he is a legal permanent resident. He believes his arrest was linked to his peaceful protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Ranjani Srinivasan, a Ph.D. student at Columbia University, was accused by the Department of Homeland Security of being a terrorist sympathizer without any evidence. Her visa was revoked, and she decided to leave the U.S.
These incidents have raised concerns that more students could be targeted for their opinions. Advocates for free speech, from both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups, have expressed alarm, stressing the importance of protecting the First Amendment, even for controversial views.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that more than 300 visas have been revoked and defended these decisions. The students, along with their families and lawyers, argue that these actions should be a concern for all Americans.
