Just 4% of international students recently surveyed said they felt “very or extremely” safe in the US, as shifting visa rules and hostile immigration policies contribute to a climate of fear on American campuses.
The findings laid bare the profound ripple effects of the administration’s policies on students’ “daily lives, well-being and long-term plans”, with 90% reporting they were moderately, very, or extremely fearful about their student visa status.
“International students describe living under constant uncertainty – unsure which actions might jeopardise their status or future,” stated the report.
The survey was conducted by Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit group dedicated to fighting discrimination against Asian and Pacific Islander people in the US. It encompassed 87 international students at different levels of study from 36 institutions across the US.
It follows months of escalating hostility against international students under the Trump administration, which has revoked over 8,000 student visas and whose suspension of new visa interviews earlier this year caused widespread disruptions for those aiming to study on US campuses this fall.
What’s more, the government’s high-profile arrests and detentions of international students participating in pro-Palestinian speech – since ruled illegal by a federal judge – led several survey respondents to highlight fears of unlawful detention or deportation.