Visa Crackdown Heightens Tension on Southern California Campuses

By Brian Choi

Federal cancellations of student visas tied to anti-Israel protests have sent a chill through college campuses across Southern California. As arrests mount nationwide, international students are bracing for the crackdown to hit home.

UCLA Students Go into Hiding

Some UCLA students who joined pro-Palestinian protests last year are now living at friends’ homes and skipping their regular housing. They’re carrying hotline numbers created by professors in case of arrest, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Worried that federal agents could arrive without notice, students are taking precautions. Many believe Southern California is next.

Over 300 Visas Revoked

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 27 that more than 300 international students have lost their visas due to involvement in anti-Israel demonstrations. He added that officials are identifying new individuals every day.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cited “support for Hamas” and “potential national security threats” as reasons for the revocations. Many students insist their actions fall under free speech protections. Legal fights are likely.

Faculty Push Back

UCLA and USC said they haven’t confirmed any arrests or visa cancellations on their campuses. Still, some professors are on edge. They point to UC policies that allow federal authorities to access campuses under immigration law.

Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Berkeley School of Law, called the crackdown “highly unusual.” He said the First Amendment protects speech, no matter a person’s immigration status.

More than 140 Jewish faculty at UCLA and USC issued joint statements to their administrations. They accused the government of using antisemitism as a cover for political retaliation and warned against conflating antisemitism with anti-Zionism. They called the federal response a threat to academic freedom and democracy.

Korean American Groups Join Criticism

Korean American civil rights groups also condemned the crackdown. Jangho Kim, co-director of the The National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC), said student, work, and green card visas reflect the government’s promise to protect individual freedom. “The administration is breaking that promise,” he said, urging an end to aggressive immigration enforcement.

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) echoed that message in a March 26 statement. The group accused the government of targeting immigrants without due process and undermining constitutional rights.

American Community Media and Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) also denounced the use of the “Enemy Nations Act” to justify deportations.

Feature image: Montecruz Foto | Published under CC 3.0