Foreign students studying in the USA are hesitant to express their views – Cyprus Newspaper
After the harsh practices of the US administration for foreign students participating in the support demonstrations of Palestine in universities, foreign students studying in the country are afraid to express their views.
Following the transition of Donald Trump to the administration, the cancellation of the visas of foreign students who entered into practice and the detention of some students to be deported caused the US campuses to change their habits, especially foreign students.
Anadolu Agency has recently kept the pulse of the students at Harvard University campus, which Trump administration threatened to cut federal funds.
From Harvard administration to foreign students, « Know Your Rights »
Although AA’s foreign students met on the campus of Harvard, one of the most established universities in the USA, their country is different, but their fears are the same: the cancellation of their visas.
The city of Boston, the US state of Massachusetts, is known as a student and a city of science that hosts the best universities in the country. Computer engineering, engineering, medicine, law and finance has more than 44,000 students from around the world and the country’s most populous foreign student population.
6 thousand 793 citizens studying at Harvard University, 27 percent of the total number of students studying at the school. These young people represent the brightest students of the countries they come from.
Many foreign students at the university did not participate in the demonstrations held on 17 April. The participants also hid their faces to avoid plugging. Students are afraid to share news on social media on issues related to Palestine or university funds.
Harvard University informs them about the process by e-Know your rights ”to distribute this atmosphere of concern and fear, which influences foreign students on campus. Under the same title, seminars are organized on the university campus and students’ questions are answered.
Many foreign students will not go to their country for summer vacation with the concern of not being admitted to the USA.
During the half -day we spent on the campus of Harvard University, we had the opportunity to meet with many foreign students. But none of them wanted to talk in front of the camera. Turkish student Rümeysa Öztürk’un Boston’da hurriedly detained and the demand to be deported to the judge to be deported to the judge terrified all foreign students.
A French student of North African origin said that his family would come to see him this summer, that he did not want to go to France for a holiday.
“We are going through very crazy times. I supported a few action in the university by applauding applause. Naturally, I shared it on social media. I did not delete any of them. The third grade student who speaks is determined not to go out of the US borders without graduating and graduation. Although the student deletes the old social media shares, « I do not share a new one anymore. » he said.
An Italian student who visited the Harvard campus from his friends from England shares the same concerns. Italian students, who did not want their appearance to be withdrawn, said that the actions for the occurrence of injustice in Palestine and the world have become dangerous even for students from Christian and European countries.
« The concern of our visas cancellation is real. We can’t underestimate it. » The Italian student said that this is predictable that this situation carries much greater risks for Muslim students.
An Arab student studying in Harvard Computer Programming Department thinks that the administration uses algorithm to plug students.
“The data of the US students is guaranteed by law. They can access all telephone, communication and location information of foreign students. Computer Programming Student, using the statements, showing the security cameras on the campus, « they can enter these cameras and watch us 24 hours. It doesn’t matter whether I tell you my name. » he said.
Turkish students we come across from the campus are also worried. What happened to Rümeysa Öztürk is forcing students to be more careful both in Boston and other parts of the USA. Rümeysa’s detained by immigration and Customs Protection (ICE) officials made it a symbol of pressures against foreign students in the United States. This increased the psychological pressure on Turkish students one more time. Turkish students we encountered on campus said that they do not want to answer our questions.
Trump Management and Harvard University face
Harvard University, which has signed research worldwide thanks to the funds from the state and donors, ranks first in the “World’s top ten schools” list.
The Trump administration decided to freeze the $ 2.2 billion fund and a $ 60 million contract price provided to Harvard. At the last point, the US administration announced that an investigation was opened to Harvard University in order to ensure that more than $ 8.7 billion grants given by various organizations were used in accordance with the laws of civil rights ”.
The US administration uses financial deductions and investigations against universities, especially to implement university administrations to prevent Palestinian support. This issue has been moved to the judiciary with mutual cases.
However, according to students, the most important development that puts the freedom of thought in university campuses is the US administration’s visa cancellation and deportation applications for students who support Palestine.
