Echoes of the Red Scare

⚖️ Immigration and Political Control

The U.S. has historically utilized immigration policy as a mechanism for political control. Periods such as the First and Second Red Scares, marked by the Palmer Raids, saw the deportation of hundreds of left-wing immigrants based on their political affiliations. Legislation like the Immigration Act of 1924 and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 expanded governmental powers to investigate and deport individuals based on their political beliefs, often circumventing due process.

🗣️ Trump's Rhetoric and Proposals

Donald Trump's political career has consistently featured strong stances on immigration. During his 2016 presidential campaign, he proposed mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, advocating for a "Deportation Force" modeled on historical programs. This rhetoric evolved into his 2024 campaign, where the distinction between legal and undocumented immigrants was blurred, with promises to deport both. His proposed methods include expedited removal, invoking the Alien Enemies Act, and utilizing the Insurrection Act to involve the military in apprehension efforts.

🚫 Targeting Institutions

The policy specifically targets universities experiencing substantial pro-Palestinian activism. The government has indicated potential actions against institutions that host such activities, including the possibility of decertifying programs that enroll students involved in these protests. This approach raises concerns about the potential for academic institutions to be pressured into policing student speech.

💰 Financial Implications

A senior Department of Justice official noted that foreign students constitute a major revenue source for universities. The threat of visa revocations and program decertification could therefore create financial pressure on educational institutions, potentially influencing their responses to student activism and their willingness to challenge government policies.

🗣️ Chilling Effect on Speech

The broad application of social media surveillance and visa revocation policies creates a chilling effect on academic discourse and freedom of expression. Students and faculty may self-censor their views on sensitive political topics for fear of jeopardizing their immigration status or academic standing, thereby undermining the open exchange of ideas fundamental to higher education.

🇱🇧 Rasha Alawieh

A Lebanese transplant nephrologist and assistant professor at Brown University, Alawieh attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah while visiting Lebanon. Her U.S. visa was revoked, and she faced deportation proceedings, with her defense arguing her actions were based on religious and familial ties, not political endorsement. Court filings revealed the administration's use of Canary Mission and Stephen Miller's involvement in identifying activists.

🇰🇷 Yunseo Chung

A Columbia University student and lawful permanent resident from South Korea, Chung was arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest at Barnard College. Although charges were dropped, federal authorities sought to revoke her permanent resident status. Her lawyer argued the government's actions were retaliatory and violated her First Amendment rights. A judge allowed her First Amendment challenge to proceed.

🇮🇩 Aditya Wahyu Harsono

An Indonesian citizen and hospital supply chain manager, Harsono was arrested at his workplace after his visa was revoked without notice. ICE agents reportedly coerced his employer into facilitating a meeting for his apprehension. Harsono, who had participated in the Daunte Wright protests and supported Gaza on social media, was told the system to verify his legal status was "down" during his arrest.

🇺🇸 Alfredo Juarez

A labor organizer for farmworkers in Washington state, Juarez was stopped by ICE agents while driving his wife to work. Agents reportedly smashed his car window and forcibly removed him. His lawyers and community members asserted he was targeted for his activism. He was taken to ICE facilities, and his case raised questions about ICE's tactics and the targeting of organizers.

🇵🇸 Mahmoud Khalil

A Palestinian student activist at Columbia University and a leader of pro-Palestinian protests, Khalil was arrested by ICE agents from his university housing without a warrant. The government sought to revoke his student visa and later his lawful permanent resident status, citing "adverse foreign policy consequences." His detention was widely criticized as an attack on free speech.

🇹🇷 R\u00fcmeysa \u00d6zt\u00fcrk

A Turkish national and Tufts University student, \u00d6zt\u00fcrk was arrested by masked DHS agents following the revocation of her F-1 student visa. Her arrest sparked protests and condemnation, with critics labeling it political targeting and a violation of civil liberties. She was held in a South Louisiana ICE Processing Center.

🇮🇳 Ranjani Srinivasan

An Indian national and PhD student at Columbia University, Srinivasan was targeted after her F-1 visa was revoked. ICE agents attempted to detain her without a warrant, and the university's actions in disenrollment were criticized for enabling federal efforts. Srinivasan evaded capture and left for Canada, facing accusations of Hamas support without evidence.

🇬🇧 Badar Khan Suri

A Georgetown University researcher from India on a student visa, Khan Suri was detained after his visa was revoked. The government accused him of spreading Hamas propaganda and antisemitism, claims disputed by Khan Suri, his attorney, and his wife. His detention conditions were described as inhumane.

🇬🇲 Momodou Taal

A Cornell University graduate student with UK and Gambian citizenship, Taal was told to surrender himself to ICE. His lawyers filed a preemptive lawsuit against executive orders targeting student protestors, fearing surveillance and deportation. He was banned from campus by Cornell for attending a protest.

🇲🇽 Jeanette Vizguerra

An immigrant rights activist from Mexico, Vizguerra had previously sought refuge in a Denver church to avoid deportation. She was detained by ICE in March 2025. Her apprehension was denounced as political persecution, and a federal judge blocked her deportation, recognizing her First Amendment claims.

🇬🇹 Vermont Migrant Organizers

José Ignacio "Nacho" De La Cruz and his stepdaughter Heidi Perez, members of Migrant Justice, were violently arrested by Border Patrol agents in Vermont. Their car window was smashed, and they were detained. Supporters claim they were targeted for their activism and for exercising their right to remain silent during the stop.

🇸🇻 Mario Guevara

A journalist who fled El Salvador due to political persecution, Guevara reported on immigration in Atlanta. He was arrested by Doraville police while covering a protest and subsequently taken into ICE custody for deportation proceedings. His case was initially closed, allowing him to remain, but he was later deported to El Salvador.

💡 Key Concepts

Understanding this policy requires context on related areas:

• Trumpism: The political ideology and movement associated with Donald Trump.
• Immigration Policy: The laws and regulations governing the entry, stay, and removal of non-citizens.
• Academic Freedom: The freedom of teachers and students to discuss and explore ideas relevant to their field of study without fear of censorship.
• First Amendment Rights: Protections for freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
• Canary Mission: A website known for documenting and targeting pro-Palestinian activists.

📜 References