Over 1,000 international students at colleges in the United States have had their student visas terminated or challenged, and the University of Idaho has been no exception. Four international students had their visas revoked earlier this month for unconfirmed reasons, though popular news media hypothesizes that the visa terminations are linked to students who were pro-Palestinian or politically active.
With over 1,000 students affected by the revoking of their student visa statuses, a multitude of lawsuits have emerged against the Trump administration for these issues. On April 25, the administration suddenly changed course to restore students’ legal status.
The Department of Homeland Security has not reinstated any visas, but has restored Student and Exchange Visitor Information System access to those who have not had visas yet revoked.
Trump’s scrutiny of pro-Palestinian activists formally began when President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 13899. This order, “The Executive Order on Combating Anti-Semitism,” was signed in 2019 and placed back into effect when he took office for his second term.
The order claims to combat antisemitism, but some have also said that it targets those who criticize Israel as a state, which many prominent Jewish figures have said does not qualify as antisemitism. The impact of this order has been seen throughout the country, now most notably with the overt targeting of international students who participate in protests.
The White House fact sheet for the executive order says, “To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-Jihadist protests, we put you on notice: Come 2025, we will find you and we will deport you, I will also quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism like never before.”
The Argonaut reported on the pro-Palestinian protests that took place on campus last year, including a vigil meant to raise awareness of the conflict in the Middle East and for the civilian victims of the conflict.
In our reporting, we featured photos and interviews with students that we are now concerned may have had an effect on the visa removals of the four UI international students last month.
Journalists are held to a code of ethics intended to maintain truthfulness and integrity in reporting. Some other important ethics of reporting include being sensitive to issues and minimizing harm.
By reporting the pro-Palestinian campus events, we did not know that our photos and articles could potentially be used in Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian international students—students who should be afforded the same rights as everyone else, including the right to due process and the First Amendment right of the freedom of speech, while they are physically in the U.S.
Also concerning is the targeting of international student journalists who have criticized the U.S. and Israel in their op-eds. The reasons for their revoked legal status and detainment by ICE are obvious, and a disgrace to student—and professional—journalism in what should be a place where the freedom of speech is never challenged.
At The Argonaut, we have always been for, of and by the students, and we want to make it clear: that includes international students. This is why we removed or replaced our photos of pro-Palestinian campus events that showed the faces of those present from our articles online.
We never want to be the reason that someone’s free speech or education is taken away or put at risk.
Our job as journalists is to report the truth and only the truth. We firmly believe in the power that free speech holds and the consequences of it being taken away. When a democracy loses the freedom of speech, it loses its foundation, and we are worried that that freedom is slowly being stripped away.
The quiet removal of international students’ SEVIS information is also particularly concerning, especially because the university has said they were not notified that students’ visa statuses were changing.
In April, Dean of Students Blaine Eckles released an email to the student body, titled, “Impact of national developments on UI’s international students.”
In the email, Eckles highlighted the termination of four students’ visas and said that the university is still trying to figure out why their visas were revoked.
“We want to express our support and care for the students affected,” the email read. “UI is actively working with them to understand the circumstances surrounding the terminations and provide them with assistance during this uncertain time.”
While the email expressed strong support for international students, there is still no clear solution to this terrifying event of mass visa targeting. Now that the order has changed and some students’ legal statuses are being restored, it is still vital for the university to continue attempting to understand the circumstances of the terminations and how they can be prepared for the next targeting of higher education, freedom of speech and international students.
The Argonaut remains committed to reporting for the university and the community, and we will do so while prioritizing the protection and dignity of those we include in our stories.