Shocked students worldwide: US visa break causes fear

Shocked students worldwide: US visa break causes fear

When Adefemola Akintade learned that the Trump administration had suspended the processing of visas for foreign students, it was initially at a loss. "I don't know what to do; that's something I've been wanting for a long time," she told CNN, still in a state of the unbeliever.

academic dreams in danger

The Nigerian journalist was accepted to the Columbia Journalism School for a master's degree and was on the verge of submitting her US visual application. "I have no plan B," said the 31-year-old. "I put everything on one card - on Columbia ... and that's a big risk." She should start her studies in New York in August and has already paid a high registration fee.

massive effects on international students

Akintade belongs to thousands of people worldwide who were thrown into an uncertain Situation on Tuesday when the US State Department and consulates show the schedule for new visa interviews for students, while plans to expand the review of social media content for applicants.

This is the latest step of the Trump administration, which is directed against university formation and with an ongoing dispute with the Harvard University started and then increased significantly in size.

fear and uncertainty among international students

Many affected Foreign students Extremely made a mixture of sadness, confusion and fear about the current developments and The sudden revolution of her life. Many of them asked for anonymity because they feared that reprisals or future problems could occur.

"It feels like a really scary and worrying time for international students in the United States," said a Canadian student, who also in Columbia . "Many of us have decided to study in the USA because of their freedoms, but now have the feeling that harmless social media posts could cost an apprenticeship, feels like censorship."

self -censorship and space for fear

Some prospective students even start censoring themselves. Another Canadian, who was accepted at the Harvard Law School, reported CNN that a friend in the Capitol recommended that her social media posts be checked shortly after the visa lock became known. "We looked at a post from ourselves at the Pride, and my caption was simply a rainbow flag and then a trans flag. And I was on the phone with her and asked:" Do I have to extinguish this? " Ultimately, we decided against it, I left it above, but I changed the caption and removed the trans flag. I don't know how to feel like it, ”said the student.

"I think it is a real proof that it is a fear campaign that is incredibly successful," she added and found that she has postponed her place this year because she received a job offer. "I changed the caption in the expectation that it could get worse. Today it is a (problem) and tomorrow there will be another one."

The uncertainty about social media posts

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said that Visa applicants have been obliged since 2019 to state their social media identifiers in applications for immigration and non-immigration visa. In addition, some applicants have already been subjected to an extended review of their social media content, mainly in connection with alleged anti-Semitism. But it is unclear what type of articles a problem could be for an application in the future and how these contributions are examined.

The British student Conrad Kunadu stated that he had to fight with an “inner conflict” about his offer to start studying for environmental health at Johns Hopkins University. After the meeting with cases such as that of a French scientist who recently denied the entry Published that President Donald Trump criticized, Kunadu saw this as a turning point. "I thought, wow. Okay, that could be potentially really bad. I don't know if I would like to study in such an environment," he told CNN.

alternative study options

After thinking about whether something he had written in 2016, Kunadu decided to stay in Great Britain and study at the University of Oxford. Although he is grateful to have a different option, he describes his situation as "a loose-free situation". "I wanted to study in the United States, not just because it is the place for my interest in health security where all the talent and resources are located, but also because this is the best way to influence these topics at a global level," said Kunadu. Like many others, he cannot avoid mourning the possible academic research and progress that may never be realized.

Kunadu and another student who wants to remain anonymous, both consider that they could explore topics in their studies that could be interpreted as a counter -reaction and possibly trigger official reactions.

The reality of immigration in the USA

"It is incredibly stressful to hear that," Michael Kagan, who heads the immigration clinic at the University of Nevada, told CNN. "It is not something someone should worry about if they want to study in the USA ... but I think that's absolutely rational at the moment. And if I would give someone advice, I would say that from a legal point of view it seems sensible to think about it."

Kagan described the Visasperre as "one of many attacks on university education and immigrants ... two of the favorite topics of the Trump administration", which in this case overlap. And while the instruction matches what the White House was already doing, he sees this as "an unprecedented attack in a time without an emergency".

a message of rejection

In the academic year 2023-34, more than 1.1 million international students studied at US universities, reports the Institute of International Education. The students who contacted CNN now tried to deal with their new reality and plan their next steps. "I still hope that there is a case in front of the Supreme Court that tilts things in my direction," said Kunadu.

Oliver Cropley, a 27-year-old British student from a weak background, told CNN that he should study with a scholarship at Kansas University for a year, but was no longer sure without a visater min. "It feels like it is a blow to lie on the ground," he said. "Our strategy is a wait, we want to see whether Trump will take a back."

The Canadian, who was accepted at the Harvard Law School, was positive about the fact that the institution is taking a position against the Trump administration. "When Harvard buckles, everyone can bend, and this is the collapse of civil society, right? When the wealthiest institution captures with the highest brand awareness, everyone does it," she said to Cnn.

For the Nigerian journalist Akintade, who has always dreamed of studying at an Ivy League school, the feeling of rejection by the United States is difficult to wear. "The message I get: we don't want you," she said with a deep sigh.

For this report, Lisa Klaassen, Nimi Princewill and Quinta Thomson contributed.