‘Do we want to study in a campus where we are scared all the time?’

Tara had long dreamt of a life in New York. But this year, when she got into graduate school programmes in the US, it was not relief and a sense of achievement she felt, but a pang of anxiety. “When I was applying last year, the US was high in terms of options for me. But I just can’t justify going. I’m not an activist of any sort, but I post political content on social media,” says the 24-year-old Delhi resident. “But this is enough to get people deported. I don’t want to be scared all the time or spend my time thinking whether I’ll wake up to an email if I like an Instagram post.” Instead, she is choosing between options in the UK and Europe, both of which feel far less precarious to her.Over the last few weeks, immigrant students have been subject to visa revocations, leaving them with little choice but to self-deport. Some were identified for their participation in pro-Palestinian protests, but increasingly, relatively minor infractions such as speeding tickets and DUIs are leading to visa revocations. About 1,500 international students have had their F-1 and J-1 visas revoked thus far, according to Inside Higher Ed, a publication tracking the phenomenon. The American Immigration Lawyers Association analysed 327 cases of revocations, and found 50% were of Indian students.Last week, Indian student Krish Lal Isserdani won a legal battle against the Trump administration’s crackdown. Weeks before the 21-year-old was set to graduate, he woke up to an email revoking his visa. This came after he was arrested for a bar fight last year, but never convicted. The judge ruled that he was not given due process or any opportunity to defend himself, which could set a precedent for students in similar positions. But most do not have the resources to fight back, leading to uncertainty and panic among Indian students in the US, but also those planning to study there, say educational consultants.Education consultant Rajshekar Tubachi, founder of Maven Consulting Services, says he’s been getting panicked calls from students and parents. “The current political climate in the US has introduced new anxieties and uncertainties. Students are rethinking their plans or thinking of precautions. Some are planning to defer their admission for a year, in the hope there’s more clarity by then,” he says. ShowQuotesMrinal K Singh, executive director of education consultancy at Prem N Kapur Associates, says a lot of students are withdrawing their applications from the US and shifting their focus to the UK and Europe. “When you’re sending a child abroad, you can’t have them thrown out of the country or worry that if they come for the holidays, they may not be able to re-enter the US,” she says, referring to certain colleges advising international students not to leave the country during the upcoming spring break.Part of the uncertainty pertains to a bill introduced in the US Congress that aims to end the Optional Practical Training programme which allows students to work in the country. Abhishek Singhal, co-founder of Univ Admit Help, says this has led to chaos, since most study abroad to find work in that country. “They’re obviously anxious because once they’ve spent that much money on an education and taken loans, they’re looking for return on investment and that means jobs. That’s long been the case in the US and elsewhere in the developed world. But now, there’s a paucity of jobs and preference is being given to local citizens as opposed to foreigners. This is also causing a decoupling of academic and professional outcomes,” he says.The drop in student visa approvals — down by 34% in FY 24 as compared to the previous year — is another cause for concern. “It feels like a lottery. Students are keeping backups in places like France or Ireland,” says Tubachi.Student visa forms ask about one’s social media accounts, leaving some concerned. Anant, who is going to a US graduate school this fall, was sent an advisory suggesting reviewing social media accounts.Malini, who is about to go to the US for her PhD, says she’s at a loss about what to do with her social media accounts. “I haven’t applied for my visa yet, but I’ve already made my accounts private. I may end up deactivating them altogether. But I use X frequently as it’s important for academic work,” says the 26-year-old.Another concern, Malini adds, is what this means for the quality of her academic work. “In the social sciences, your work requires some amount of academic freedom, openness and security, which you don’t know is guaranteed anymore. Your department or college can only do so much if immigration steps in. I’m concerned this will impede the quality of work I am able to do,” she says.Manya, currently studying in the US, says it’s been a difficult time. “A few weeks ago, when the news was full of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and international student abductions, the atmosphere was heavy with fear. I felt anxious even if someone knocked at my door,” she says. What she’s most disillusioned by is “hollow DEI initiatives,” she says. “People build their careers around it, but when push comes to shove, what tangible support have they extended to international students or student protestors? People speak up only when it is safe and convenient for them to do so.”Singh says these moves seem antithetical to what an academic institution should be. “The whole purpose of university is to expand your horizons, your thinking, have new experiences, but that's not possible without the freedom of expression. Do you really want to study in an environment where you’re scared all the time?”Student names changed on request