Editorial
The recent wave of student visa revocations under the Trump administration is more than just a policy shift—it’s an alarming erosion of civil liberties disguised as national security. With over 300 international students affected, many detained without warning or due process, the United States risks weaponizing immigration law against political dissent and academic freedom.
What began as a crackdown on so-called “destabilizing” activity has expanded into a sweeping campaign targeting students—many of whom were engaged in peaceful pro-Palestinian protests or had minor legal infractions, like speeding tickets. Immigration law may technically allow broad discretion, but using it to police political views or retroactively punish past behavior sets a dangerous precedent. The arrests—often carried out by plainclothes ICE agents—evoke scenes of authoritarian regimes, not the open democratic society America claims to be.
The justification from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who labeled some of these students “lunatics,” offers no comfort. That rhetoric delegitimizes student voices and suggests an ideological litmus test for who deserves to stay in the U.S.—a stance condemned by civil liberties groups like the ACLU. Worse still, the lack of transparency or legal recourse leaves students in legal limbo, stripped of rights without warning or explanation.
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America has long benefited from international students who bring talent, diversity, and perspective to its campuses. Treating them as national security threats not only undermines those contributions—it chills academic expression and international trust. The U.S. must decide: will it uphold the ideals of due process, free speech, and inclusion, or will it continue down a path that punishes difference and dissent? If it’s the latter, the damage may outlast any administration.
