Fear among international students as Trump signs order targeting pro-Palestinian protesters

International students across the United States are grappling with fear and uncertainty following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

The order, aimed at combating "antisemitism," includes provisions to revoke student visas and deport non-citizen college students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests.

The directive has sent shockwaves through university campuses, particularly affecting the large number of Indian students studying in the U.S. on F-1 visas. With nearly 300,000 Indian students enrolled in American institutions, many now feel compelled to reconsider their political engagement due to the risks associated with the new policy.

A 29-year-old Master’s student at Columbia University, originally from Delhi, admitted that she quickly erased past social media posts supporting Palestine. A 21-year-old Columbia University student from Jaipur, also on an F-1 visa, said she had attended vigils in support of Palestine but now fears repercussions.

Trump's order, outlined in an official fact sheet, directs the Justice Department to take "immediate action" against what it calls an "explosion of antisemitism on campuses and streets" following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The directive includes the prosecution of "terroristic threats, arson, vandalism, and violence against American Jews."

It also emphasises a crackdown on what Trump refers to as "pro-jihadist protests" and promises to swiftly revoke the visas of all perceived "Hamas sympathisers" in academic institutions.

Some students had already been wary of participating in protests. A Columbia student from Mumbai revealed that she had returned to India last year to avoid potential backlash for attending demonstrations.

Legal experts have raised serious concerns about the order’s constitutionality and potential implications.

Eric Lee, an immigration attorney with Diamante Law Group, called the move "a direct violation of the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech."

According to Lee, the order casts a wide net, affecting not just public protests but also classroom discussions, essays, and even conversations with professors or friends. "Universities are essentially being pressured to act as surveillance arms of the Department of Homeland Security, monitoring and reporting students and faculty," he explained.

Lee also drew historical parallels, likening the order to the Alien and Sedition Acts and the Palmer Raids, which targeted political dissidents in the early 20th century. "The executive order is a dangerous precedent, attempting to transform American universities into an extension of Trump’s deportation machine," he warned.

The timing of the order is significant, coming just ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House on February 4. Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader to meet Trump following the start of his second term.

The order mandates government agencies to report within 60 days on all available criminal and civil actions that could be used against those involved in pro-Palestinian protests. It also calls for an analysis of lawsuits related to alleged civil rights violations by protesters, which could lead to further legal actions against non-citizen students and faculty.