SHG Partner Matthew I. Hirsch was quoted at length in a recent article on the impact of the Administration’s abusive enforcement agenda on international students and the nation’s colleges and universities. The article, published in the Bucks County (PA) Beacon, discussed the Trump Administration’s Musk-driven, AI-enabled initiative to cross-reference the SEVIS student database with an FBI-run database to identify students who had had contact with the police.
The problem was that the draconian dragnet did not differentiate between individuals convicted of serious crimes and those cited for minor offenses and motor vehicle violations and even went after students with no record of conviction. The result was fear, flight and chaos as international students, some just weeks from graduating, sought answers as to their status and what they should do. Many scrambled to leave the U.S., leaving behind their possessions and their hopes for the future. Quoting Mr. Hirsch: “People started to run for the hills . . . People were completely traumatized.” Others remained in the U.S. “land locked” Hirsch said – unable to leave the U.S. because they feared they would not be barred from returning.
In nearly all cases, lawsuits followed and the SEVIS student records were reinstated. But not before devastating damage was caused, not just to the students and their schools, but to America’s standing as a destination for international students.
To read the full article click here. For more information on international studies in the U.S. and the impact of the Administration’s policies on international students, contact us.
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