The US Department of State is sending emails to international students and asking them to self-deport for the recent campus activism. DOS is going through the account of social media of all the students and keeping a keen eye on students who are making any kind of post or comments regarding ‘anti-national’. For all the students who have addressed ‘anti-national’ on social media sites, the DOS is sending an email and instructing them to self-deport themselves from the United States. It was quite a shocking incident for the immigrant students.
Right now, the government of the US is trying to limit the right of free expression for students. This recent crackdown is making things quite difficult for all students. Even if anyone shares any link on social media, they are finding the students and giving them a formal notice. Along with this, the government is taking the initiative of scrutinizing the student visa applications who have applied for M (vocational), F (academic), and J (exchange). This complicated procedure is becoming a huge problem for everyone.
The emails that have been sent by the US DOS to students say ‘On behalf of the United States Department of State, the Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office hereby informs you that additional information became available after your visa was issued. As a result, your F-1 visa with expiration date XXXXX was revoked in accordance with Section 221(i) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended’.
It also says ‘The Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office has alerted the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which manages the Student Exchange Visitor Program and is responsible for removal proceedings. They may notify your designated school official about the revocation of your F-1 visa’. The email goes on by stating ‘Remaining in the United States without a lawful immigration status can result in fines, detention, and/or deportation. It may also make you ineligible for a future U.S. visa. Please note that deportation can take place at a time that does not allow the person being deported to secure possessions or conclude affairs in the United States. Persons being deported may be sent to countries other than their countries of origin’.
In addition to all this, the email also suggests that ‘individuals whose visa was revoked may wish to demonstrate their intent to depart the United States using the CBP Home App. As soon as you depart the United States, you must personally present your passport to the U.S. embassy or consulate which issued your visa so your visa can be physically canceled. You must not attempt to use your visa as it has been revoked. If you intend to travel to the United States in the future, you must apply for another U.S. visa and a determination on your eligibility for a visa will be made at that time’.
After this huge statement, an immigrant student does not have any other option but to go back to their country. They do not have confirmation if they will get back to their colleges or university. No one also knows how much time it will take to make the situation stable for all the immigrant students.
