A recent onslaught of deportations and revoked student visas targeting international students brought forth by executive orders from the Trump administration has sparked controversy and anxiety nationwide. Boasting a diverse student body, Mercersburg Academy hosts a large number of international students, many of whom have voiced their concerns about the current situation and their futures.
In a departure from standard journalistic practice, the News has chosen to withhold the names of students who agreed to be interviewed to protect their identities.
A principal worry is how international students may be more vulnerable to losing visas over minor infractions. “I know there was a guy who had a small traffic violation from years ago, and he got fined. After he resolved it, it was still used against him in immigration. My mom was voicing concerns that this is possible for me and that I should be careful about getting tickets and violating other small rules,” a Korean student added.
Many have also expressed that they are being more cautious about what they voice politically. “We see how the current administration has taken away students' visas and rights because of behaviors such as protesting and posting political content on social media. That makes me more wary about what I say on social media,” said a Chinese student. A Korean student agreed, “My parents have [told me] to be mindful of what I say now, and I cannot post or express what I want to say as freely.”
Current seniors expressed apprehension about their futures. A senior from Canada said, “I feel insecure with my visa… at the moment. Traveling home through the border is a lot slower, and I recently got stopped for the first time when I was crossing. Under the current situation, it's a lot harder for me to get my visa for university. I am on high alert for not getting into any legal trouble.”
Newfound uncertainties and hostility that international students face may undermine the popularity of the U.S. as a destination for higher education. A Chinese student said, “I feel like we’re losing faith, including some of my friends—they're already trying to look into universities outside of the US. I'm still going to be in the US at least for my undergraduate years. But you know what? Maybe if our education system continues to be affected, I might be looking for another country's university for my graduate school.”
History teacher Rich Heffron echoed the worry. “How much will the uncertainty affect students' willingness to apply and take the risk of going to a school abroad where your visa might be revoked at the last minute or might be revoked while you're here? Typically America leads, especially in higher education; it's a place to go for advanced degrees. But we may start seeing a shift to universities in South Asia or Europe due to this.”
Vicki Thompson, Director of College Counseling, commented on a recent upturn in events. “There were colleges all across the country that were experiencing some students losing their visas, just sort of disappearing overnight. But recently, a number of those visas have been restored due to the individual and federal lawsuits seeking to restore students’ legal status amid targeting by immigration authorities. I don't think we should panic because much of this is the result of a very sudden executive order. These terminations openly disregard the regulations governing student status termination. I think we all have to be vigilant in staying on top of the news.I know everyone in our office is reading everything we can get our hands on to stay abreast of the situation.”
On a more positive note, Grace Megaffin, Director of Admissions, confirmed that Mercersburg's visa procedures remain unaffected for now. Megaffin said. "To date, there have not been new policies or alterations in our ability to issue I-20s, so we are hopeful the current political landscape will not change this piece of the enrollment process for our newest families. This year, we have new students from 23 different countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and North America. International students currently make up 20 percent of our student body.”