By AVA VITIELLO
Huntington News columnist
International students from all over the country are the newest target for President Donald Trump’s sweeping attack on the United States. Now, this attack has arrived right at our front door, and Northeastern has found itself with a target on its back.
On Monday, a Northeastern spokesperson confirmed that the State Department had revoked the visas of 18 Northeastern students and 22 alumni. While it is unclear why they were canceled, the larger message Trump sends to our international and student community is explicit: If you disagree with our administration, we will come for your visa status.
…According to Northeastern’s “Navigating a New Political Landscape” FAQ page, the Department of State is targeting visa holders who have “allegedly engaged in criminal behavior.” There is no information explaining what those activities are on the website, and it seems like our university leaders will not be addressing this anytime soon. Across the country, people have had visas revoked over violations as trivial as traffic infractions.
While there is currently no evidence that Northeastern students’ visas were revoked due to political advocacy or speech, cases such as Rümeysa Öztürk, the Tufts student who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers in March, point to speech being utilized as a factor in visa withdrawal. So, in this time of extreme uncertainty, how are you going to be affected?
… You are justified if you are an F-1 or J-1 visa holder and you are afraid. You are justified if you are someone fearing the revocation of your student visa. But if you are a citizen complaining about Trump’s policies and wondering what our world will look like in four years, I beg you to make your voice heard.
At this moment, anger is an appropriate reaction from the Northeastern community. As a community, we can rally support and make our voices heard.
… We can demand action and show the administration that we want answers. …As Northeastern students, there are a lot of unanswered questions and a lot of unknowns. Luckily, there is hope. …As a student body, we must stand with our international students and hold the administration accountable for the protection it owes them.