U.S. Campus Climate Concerns for International Students Amid Political Tensions

Many international students are re-evaluating their ambitions of studying in the U.S. as restrictive immigration policies and political hostility under the Trump administration lead to concerns over personal safety and freedom of expression.

Hassan Kamal Wattoo, a law student from Pakistan, began his journey to the University of California, Berkeley, hoping for a sanctuary of free speech and opportunity. However, as he reflects on his time in the U.S., Wattoo finds himself disillusioned as the environment becomes increasingly inhospitable for international students under the pressures of political change.

Faced with aggressive measures such as arrests of students for activism, the cancellation of numerous student visas, and a palpable shift in the climate around free expression, Wattoo, who has faced threats from authorities in Pakistan for his critical writing, now plans to return home after graduation. The decision comes after significant concern for the safety of his family; they opted not to attend his graduation ceremony due to fears of potential harassment at the border.

The response from international students reveals a broader atmosphere of anxiety. In a recent outreach, The New York Times gained insights from 150 international students regarding how current U.S. immigration policies have influenced their academic and personal lives. A number of respondents indicated they had altered their travel plans or refrained from engaging in discussions on sensitive topics out of fear of government scrutiny.

Wattoo's experience and the stories from other international students underscore a troubling trend where a once welcoming academic environment is becoming overshadowed by fear and caution. The narratives shared echo concerns that the principles of free speech and academic freedom, long celebrated in the U.S., are being diminished, leaving many to reconsider their aspirations in American universities.