Palestinian Student Arrested, Raises Concerns
The Trump administration's actions have significant implications for individuals on visas or Green Cards in the US, particularly those who express opposition to its politics or foreign policy. The use of AI tools to scan mobile phones and the pressure on Pakistani citizens to give up their Green Cards are just a few examples of the administration's efforts to exclude individuals with whom they have a political qualm.
Lqaa Kordia, a Palestinian student from Columbia University, has been arrested by US immigration authorities for overstaying her student visa, which was terminated in 2022 due to lack of attendance. This incident comes after another student, Ranjani Srinivasan, chose to leave the country voluntarily following the revocation of her visa for allegedly advocating for violence and terrorism.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that students who advocate for violence and terrorism should have their privilege to live and study in the US revoked. However, Srinivasan's lawyer claims that the government violated her basic rights by revoking her visa for engaging in protected political speech. The Trump administration has also launched an investigation into Columbia University, accusing it of harboring and concealing illegal aliens on its campus.
The case highlights the Trump administration's efforts to exclude individuals with whom they have a political qualm, including using AI tools to scan the information on the mobile phones of people arriving at US ports. The administration is also pressuring Pakistani citizens with Green Cards to give up their cards if they do not reside in the US full-time, and is considering restrictions on non-citizens' rights that will likely impact people in the diaspora.
The arrest of Lqaa Kordia and the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian national and Columbia University graduate student, have raised concerns about the Trump administration's actions towards immigrants and their rights. The administration's efforts to deport immigrants and restrict non-citizens' rights have sparked controversy and criticism from human rights advocates and lawyers.