US Universities Shield Foreign Students from Trump Deportation Threats

 By Staff, Agencies

From cautioning students against international travel to offering support for completing their degrees, US universities are stepping in to help international students navigate the challenges posed by President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

First, immigration authorities detained students participating in pro-Palestine demonstrations.

In result, thousands of international students faced potential deportation for minor infractions and arrests.  

Reuters interviews revealed that some campus advisors are recommending foreign students retain legal counsel and continue attending classes while their appeals are ongoing.

University faculty members have taken legal action to challenge the constitutionality of the student arrests.

The Association of American Universities warns that the $44 billion in economic contributions made by 1.1 million international students in the US last year is at risk.

MIT President Sally Kornbluth emphasized the significance of international talent, stating that the institution would be diminished without students and scholars from other nations.

More than half of international students in the US come from India and China, according to the advocacy group Institute of International Education.

The US  Immigration and Customs Enforcement has removed over 4,700 names from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), often citing alleged criminal activity, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Nearly half of those removed are Indian students, many of whom were participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT), a work experience program for recent graduates, based on an AILA analysis of 327 cases.