USA: STOP REVOKING VISAS OF FOREIGN STUDENTS

Dear Secretary Kristi Noem,

I am writing regarding the recent trend of targeting foreign students with repression, detention, and potential deportation for either their activities in protests, speaking out in support of Palestinian rights and against the ongoing war crimes and genocide in the occupied Gaza Strip, or due to their backgrounds.

Following the detention of Mahmoud Khalil on March 8 and the revocation of his residency status, the US government revoked the student visas of seven identified individuals and is seeking to revoke the residency status of at least two other students who protested or spoke up about the conflict in the occupied Gaza Strip under an obscure and rarely used provision of immigration law. At least 1300 additional students are known to have had their visas revoked. However, many of these students never received notice of the revocation, nor did they participate in any protest or expressive activity on campus. Some students may have been targeted due to having committed minor crimes such as traffic violations. According to a lawsuit filed on behalf of students, many were targeted because of their country of origin, particularly those from African, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and Asian backgrounds.

These repressive tactics and the summary revocation of people’s immigration status demonstrate an utter lack of respect for their human rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, due process, and to be free from discrimination.

I urge you to restore the visas and immigration status of these students and visitors, release all students from immigration detention, refrain from deporting any of them, and end the targeting of students based on their immigration statuses and for exercising their human rights.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]