S'porean students on edge amid US curbs on campus protesters

Fear of deportation grows in wake of govt actions targeting students linked to rallies

- Marina Lopes

WASHINGTON - For generations, the US promised international students not just a degree but also a voice — one grounded in academic freedom and open debate.

Now, that legacy is unravelling, as a sweeping crackdown leaves immigrant communities — including more than 4,000 Singaporeans studying in America — on edge.

The government revoked the visas of more than 300 students and visitors because of their foreign policy views or criminal activities, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 27. The announcement follows a string of arrests and detentions targeting students linked to campus protests over Israel's war in Gaza.

For some Singaporeans, the once-remote fear of deportation now governs daily decisions. One student from Columbia University, ground zero for pro-Palestinian protests that rippled across US campuses, said he now lives in a constant state of anxiety.

"It has made me feel that no one is safe," said the student, who declined to give his name for fear of reprisal.

"It feels like, at any point, they can make arbitrary decisions that affect your immigration status in a way that hasn't gone through meticulous review. That's scary — because then you're at the mercy not just of an administration, but of one person who may be out to get you for your ideas or speech."

The immigration authorities on March 8 arrested Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, 30, a Palestinian and legal permanent resident, at his home.

Dozens of other student leader arrests followed. Ms Yunseo Chung, 21, a South Korean student at Columbia University involved in pro-Palestinian protests, had her permanent residency revoked on March 10.