by SAVITA PATEL
“Imaandari se dekha jaye to dar hai ki yahan se utha kar phekh denge, deport kar denge (to be honest, there’s fear that they’ll throw us out, deport us),” a graduate student at the University of Oregon says as he talks about the fear of “serious consequences” that his “student visa issues” may entail amidst the ongoing protests at his college. For an Indian national from a humble background who has strived hard to get to the country, the choice between getting involved in the current protests against Israeli action in Gaza or staying aloof is not very difficult. “In principle, I can relate to them. But I can’t take a risk,” he says, wishing to stay anonymous.
A nationwide wave of pro-Palestine demonstrations has roiled American campuses. Students and faculty are demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and calling for divestment of university endowments from companies that have ties with Israel. In the crackdown on these demonstrations, university administrations have called in police to remove protest encampments; hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists have been arrested. There have been no reports of arrests or suspensions of Indian students so far.
“It’s A Minority”
Thousands of Indian students are today witnessing the largest US student movement in decades, but they stand mostly on the sidelines. Referring to Indian participation, Jayati Ghosh, a Professor of Economics at University of Massachusetts in Amherst, notes, “I was at the encampment. It’s difficult to generalise, but certainly I would say it’s a minority.” Terming the actions of law enforcement agencies “unfair” and their approach to these protests “high-handed”, Ghosh says that students from India face different repercussions compared to American citizens. “The consequences are really heavy for them because it takes a lot to get here for a variety of reasons, including expenses for those who are paying for their education themselves. There is a lot of parental pressure – “you get your degree and come home” kind of a thing. My students have mentioned these to me,” she says.
The police involvement has deterred ‘progressive’ students even though they believe in the ‘democratic right to protest’. Being scared about the “impact on his fellowship”, Sushil, a student at Washington University in St Louis, says, “I don’t believe that the American police system is very fair. We have seen police brutality against black protesters in 2017.” The possibility of arrest weighs on their minds. “When you are in trouble, no one comes to help you, so why should I join the protests?” he says.
“No Right To Protest” And Other Misinformation
International students enter the US on F-1 or J-1 visas, which are granted based on their college admissions. New Jersey-based immigration attorney Rupal Parikh says that a student’s visa is linked to their college enrollment. “If you don’t follow campus rules for peaceful protest and get expelled, that is going to absolutely impact whether you can continue to be here to finish your education because your student visa would be cancelled.”
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