While the Trump administration’s massive deportation effort and crackdown on students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests threaten the international talent that drives labs and startups at universities across the country, hundreds of foreign students in the U.S. with degrees, jobs, and legal status are suddenly in legal limbo.
“It just feels like you’re less welcome in this country as time goes on,” said a Boston University alumnus who relocated halfway around the globe to get a master’s degree in finance.
He explained his decision to study in the United States by saying, “The American markets are one of the most competitive markets.” “If you understand how to work in the U.S. markets, as a finance person, you could work anywhere else in the world.”
He was hired as a quantitative analyst after graduating, and he just got his work permit a few days ago.
Then, an email brought about a complete change. “terminated” was the word that appeared on his “sevis record,” which is the digital verification of a valid student visa, according to screenshots taken from a government database.
Since President Trump took office in January, his legal status has been removed, making him one of more than one thousand international students whose legal status has been removed.
According to Cassie Cai, an immigration attorney located in Los Angeles, her clients are “very fearful.”
“A lot of them change their address because they know that ICE might get them deported,” Cai stated. “They have reason to do that.”
And in Atlanta, immigration attorney Charles Kuck is battling for the rights of one hundred fifty students who have had their visas revoked and are in danger of being deported.
“ICE appears to be out of control,” Kuck stated.
He is of the opinion that the government of Donald Trump is employing artificial intelligence in order to attack them.
Read Also: Dozens of International Students in Colorado Colleges Have Visas Revoked
“They said, AI, here’s all the students,” Kuck said in a speculative manner. The information should be checked against every database, including every criminal database, every civil database, and every immigration database. Should you receive a hit, you should email them a revocation.
Due to the fact that the majority of overseas students are not qualified for federal financial aid, many of them pay the full tuition, which helps institutions remain financially viable.
“I mean, definitely,” the graduate of Boston University responded when asked if he believes that the targeting of overseas students could have a negative impact on innovation in the United States over the long term.
“In the perception of people’s minds of, you know, what the U.S. stands for, in terms of the forefront of technology and things like that.”
The graduate of Boston University intends to leave the country, in contrast to those who have chosen to remain and fight.
“I want to build a career, and this is my prime,” he stated. “Like, if I don’t start now, then when?”
