Introduction
In today’s politically charged, polarized climate, many individuals–from college students to working professionals–are expressing concerns about U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East. University students have emerged as a visible group in this wave of civic activism, organizing protests, walkouts, and public statements. 

While U.S. citizens cannot be deported for participating in political speech, international students face a different dilemma. Their immigration status makes them vulnerable to punitive actions that impact their education and residency. Across the country, international students are facing visa revocations allegedly tied to political speech and rallies surrounding Gaza.

International Students’ Plight

After taking office, President Trump signed Executive Order 14188 on January 29, 2025. It targets higher education institutions and calls for the deportation of visa-holding students involved in unlawful activity during anti-Israel protests following the October 7 attacks.

The crackdown began with Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University. He is an Algerian citizen who studied International and Public Affairs under the green card program. During Columbia’s pro-Palestinian encampments in 2024, Mahmoud was an active but nonviolent participant with no criminal charges. But following his arrest on March 8, 2025, Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Jamee Comans ruled that Khalil’s “beliefs, statements or associations” made him deportable. 

In late March, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the administration has revoked 300 student visas. But the American Immigration Lawyers Association dug a little deeper. They estimate over 4,700 students have been removed from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement-maintained database. From the University of California system alone, at least 150 students’ visas have been revoked, completely throwing them off their education and career trajectories. 

Executive Order 14188 and a 1942 Statute

An executive order is a presidential directive with the force of law that allows the President to act without congressional approval. On the other hand, a statute is a law passed by Congress and signed by the President. 

President Trump’s Executive Order 14188 directs federal agencies to combat anti-Semitism in higher education. He cites a statute called the Stabilization Act of 1942 as legal grounding to deport individuals deemed a threat based on speech or ideology.

This statute was enacted during World War II, when Japanese, German, and Italian nationals were under suspicion. It facilitated an era of mass surveillance and internment camps to remove “enemy aliens” during wartime. When comparing 1942 to 2025, there are several key differences to note. First and foremost, the United States is not in a declared war with any country from which these international students come. Secondly, free speech–especially political dissent–is constitutionally protected. And lastly, the current use targets ideology, not actual threats. 

Consequences for Students and Our Nation

America is known as the land of the free and opportunity–a place where people of all backgrounds come to pursue their dreams without fear of repression or persecution. For students who came seeking safety, knowledge, and a future built through world-class education, this executive order has irrevocably upended their lives. No longer can they finish their degrees and look for economic opportunity in the land they have made home. Their only offense was exercising a constitutional right to free speech, and they are paying dearly for it.

Reviving a WWII-era statute to silence students sets a dangerous precedent of ideological deportation. Laws should be looked at within their respective contexts, and all persons–regardless of citizenship status–are entitled to free speech and due process.