CORRECTION: Due to a publishing error, an unfinished draft of this editorial was originally published on April 2. That draft did not reflect the final deliberations of the Editorial Board and has since been replaced with the finalized version which was run in our April 3 print edition.
All eyes are on college campuses, as the federal government amps up on immigration — particularly noncitizen students. With immigration enforcement swarming campuses, fear has taken control. The Trump administration’s actions make clear that the use of force against noncitizen students is part of its broader agenda to remove constitutionally protected rights to free speech. But students on Grounds have not been so quick to give in. Hundreds of students and faculty protested at Madison Hall last week to call for greater protections for international students. It is essential that the University carefully heeds these demands and commits to protecting both noncitizen students and their rights to free speech.
Noncitizens have become the easiest targets in the mission to crack down on colleges. They are subject to a convoluted system of political rights and are at risk of deportation. In utilizing these murky laws to its advantage, the Trump administration has executed a series of draconian measures that have seeped into higher education. This inculcates a climate of uncertainty, with noncitizen students and faculty fearing that their status on Grounds is in jeopardy should another outrageous executive order come in.
Students on Grounds have already begun to reckon with this reality. This year’s Student Council elections saw campaign platforms with promises to expand Student Legal Services to cover noncitizen students. Similarly, the International Students Office has focused on advising students about renewing their statuses and planning return trips, ensuring continuous information in an uncertain time. And Mar. 26, students walked out of their classes in part to advocate for noncitizen students. The coupling of organizations protecting international students and international students defending their peers emphasizes the importance of grassroots and institutionalized support for noncitizen students.
And this fear is well-founded due to the increasingly concerning pattern emerging on other campuses. Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and graduate student at Columbia University, was detained and is facing deportation for leading pro-Palestinian protests. Last week, immigration enforcement staged an operation to arrest a Turkish student outside her home in Boston. And the crackdown extends far beyond students. A Brown University assistant professor was deported against a judge’s orders despite possessing a valid visa. Meanwhile, an Indian national and professor at Georgetown University was detained and deemed “deportable.” He has yet to be charged with a crime. The common thread among all of these cases is a blatant violation of noncitizens’ rights.
In their curbs on immigration, the administration has not only violated students’ rights, but they are also denying the benefits that the international community has on campuses. From an economic perspective, international students contribute $44 billion to the economy through housing costs, tuition and fees, supporting thousands of jobs despite making up a fraction of the student population in the United States. Beyond economic questions, noncitizen students are essential to the fabric of universities. Language barriers and cultural differences are how we learn to develop a multicultural perspective that reckons with the diversity of the world. During this time, the University must embrace its mission to facilitate a vibrant residential learning environment bound by a diverse community.
For many noncitizens, American academic culture remains an emblem of success and excellence. The University alone has a plethora of noncitizen faculty and students who consistently punch above their weight on Grounds. Non-citizen students are regularly awarded for both their academic excellence and leadership. The University encourages noncitizen participation through departments and scholarships dedicated to their complex needs. The University has also led the charge in expanding financial aid to undocumented students. Despite these past actions, the current landscape for noncitizen students means that the continuation of these protections is vital, even as it is more difficult to guarantee.
In this pivotal moment, the University must stand as a bulwark against policies that threaten academic freedom. Failing to protect our noncitizen students represents a radical step backward. The administration must reaffirm our commitment to inclusion, ensuring that these grounds remain open to all. Only by taking a firm stance today — and reaffirming our commitment to the rights of our noncitizen students, faculty and staff — do we truly come to honor them as our peers and equals.
The Cavalier Daily Editorial Board is composed of the Executive Editor, the Editor-in-Chief, the two Opinion Editors, a Senior Associate and an Opinion Columnist. The board can be reached at eb@cavalierdaily.com.
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