US Ambassadors Demand End to Student Visa Crackdown
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A powerful cross-party group of more than 60 former US ambassadors and senior diplomats has made an urgent and heartfelt plea to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, demanding an immediate end to the severe crackdown targeting international students and academics in the US.
In a scathing open letter sent on November 17th, the seasoned former federal officials expressed their “dismay” at the Trump administration’s actions, which they argue are not only punishing free expression but also deliberately side-stepping due process. The letter highlights distressing cases where students have been arrested, detained, and even deported simply for exercising their right to free speech on US campuses, often without the fundamental legal fairness Americans expect.
The diplomats’ central concern is the State Department’s controversial policy of carrying out “intensive reviews” of protected speech on social media. They claim the explicit purpose of this surveillance is to punish visa applicants and holders for their lawfully expressed views, an action that directly contradicts America’s constitutional commitment to open discourse.
The envoys warned that this campaign of fear is having severe real-world consequences, creating a “climate of fear and uncertainty” on campuses. Not only is the free exchange of ideas being stifled, but America’s diplomatic standing and reputation as a world leader in education are also “suffering”. The group pointed out that the economic damage is already evident, with foreign students choosing to take their talent; and their significant tuition fees, to other countries.
The collective intervention comes shortly after the administration announced it had revoked tens of thousands of non-immigrant visas, including 8,000 of student visas, as part of its broader immigration drive. The ambassadors are adamant that this is stripping the US of one of its most valuable assets; its soft power, by driving away the “best and brightest” global minds.
The appeal from this large, bipartisan coalition of former US ambassadors serves as a stark warning: the US government’s current policy against international students is not just a domestic issue but a diplomatic and economic self-own. By prioritising a hardline approach over foundational values of free speech and due process, America risks eroding its global standing and crippling its higher education sector. It is a critical moment for the State Department to heed the advice of its most experienced diplomats and uphold the country’s legacy as a beacon of academic freedom and intellectual diversity.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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