Opinion on the Trump Administration’s Action Against International Students

America is a country that prides itself on the endless opportunities that it provides, regardless of social class or background, including, but not limited to, place of birth. But, time and time again, the Trump administration has made their disinterest in LQBTQ rights, the black lives matter movement, religious tolerance, and inclusivity of immigrants clear.

One of the more recent anti-immigration sentiments of the Trump administration is the since-repealed action to force international students whose colleges are not offering in-person classes due to COVID-19 to repatriate. According to the New York Times, around one million international students enroll in American universities each year. These students contribute a yearly 41 billion dollars to the economy and hold a little under half a million jobs.

This action shows that the motivations of the Trump administration are not a focus on unity during the emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic, nor the economy, as international students are a positive good, but on enforcing xenophobic ideals and jeopardizing the diverse and inclusive American culture and “American dream.”

There has been immense pushback against barring international students; Schools such as Harvard and MIT almost immediately filed lawsuits, while almost 100 members of Congress, led by Senator (D-MA) Elizabeth Warren and Congresswoman (D-MA 7th District) Ayanna Pressley, sent a letter of opposition to the policy to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The letter calls the proposed policy “irrational and xenophobic” and suggested that the motivations were not keeping citizens safe amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, but “animus toward immigrants, by a goal of forcing schools to reopen even as COVID-19 cases are rising, and by a desire to create an illusion of normalcy during this unprecedented public health emergency.”

“The order came down without notice — its cruelty surpassed only by its recklessness. It appears that it was designed purposefully to place pressure on colleges and universities to open their on-campus classrooms for in-person instruction this fall, without regard to concerns for the health and safety of students, instructors, and others,” Harvard President Larry Bacow said in a statement. Another challenger of the bill, L. Rafael Reif, president of M.I.T., said the pushback was evidence of “the important role international students play in our education, research, and innovation enterprises here in the United States.” and that “These students make us stronger, and we hurt ourselves when we alienate them.”

“Across the world, people come to this country with unrelenting optimism and determination toward the future. They study here, innovate here, they make America who we are. Donald Trump doesn’t get that — we need a president who does.” Joe Biden said on his Twitter account in July.

International students would face unprecedented and extreme challenges if the bill were to have passed For some, travel bans would prevent them from returning to their home countries. Other problems could be spreading coronavirus or putting students who are part of a vulnerable population at risk. Not to mention the impracticality of students trying to attend classes from all different time zones, likely resulting in classes during the middle of the night. The government can not assume that students would have internet access or be able to overcome other obstacles hindering their degrees.

The Trump administration is capitalizing on COVID-19 to support its anti-immigration agenda. A public health emergency is not an opportunity for political gain, nor should safety be a bipartisan issue, as we have seen with President Trump’s prior refusal to enforce necessary protocols, for example pushing forward with his campaign rallies against the advice of social distancing, and condemnation of masks.

Although this heavy opposition led to a repeal of the action, the July 6 directive should have never been proposed and simply proves the extreme xenophobia and disregard of human life of the Trump Administration, as repatriating and attending online classes will not be an option for many students.