University of Houston Students Protest Immigration Crackdowns and Funding Threats
The University of Houston campus was filled with students, professors, and union leaders protesting against immigration crackdowns and university funding threats. The protest, which took place in front of the M.D. Anderson Library, was part of a national call for action against student visa revocations, diversity, equity, and inclusion rollbacks.
Reasons Behind the Protest
Students bore the heat while holding handwritten signs opposing immigration enforcement on campus. The signs read, "We’re not safe until we’re all safe," "Education not deportation," and "Come for one, face all." International students at the university have had their visas revoked by the federal government, in some cases due to their participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. This has created a sense of fear among students, with some feeling nervous about participating in the protest.
Fear and Surveillance
A graduate student, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed concerns about the university’s role in surveilling students. "I know a lot of people on student visas that are feeling understandably nervous but also looking for ways they want to continue being involved, but they’re not necessarily going to come out to protest," she said. "Right next to us right now are cops, so they can’t comfortably come out because they understand that the university themselves are surveilling." This sense of fear and surveillance has led to a mobilization of students who are not on visas, with many attending the protest for the first time.
Visa Revocations and University Response
The protest comes days after a University of Houston assistant professor announced that he is preparing to return to South Korea after his visa was unexpectedly terminated. The university has reported that a "small number" of international students have had their visas revoked by the U.S. government. However, professors and protest organizers claim that at least 12 students have had their student visas revoked at the University of Houston. The university has yet to confirm the exact number.
National Call for Action
The Thursday gathering was part of a national call for action against student visa revocations, diversity, equity, and inclusion rollbacks, and to defend students, programs, and research that has recently been targeted under President Donald Trump’s administration. The protest, organized by the American Association of University Professors, took place at more than 100 university campuses across the United States.
Impact on Students and Faculty
University students on visas are feeling fearful as immigration efforts have ramped up across campuses in the U.S. David McNally, a University of Houston history professor, said, "The problem is we are cobbling together bits of information. So, take the department of history that I’m in. Two of our teaching assistants have told us they’ve received messages from students in their classes saying, ‘I will no longer be able to attend, my visa has been revoked.’" This has created a sense of uncertainty and fear among students and faculty.
Demands for Sanctuary
Protesters called on the university to establish a sanctuary for students to protest without fear of immigration enforcement on campus. Associate professor Josiah Rector, speaking on behalf of the Texas State Employees Union, condemned the recent immigration crackdown on university campuses across the state. "We are seeing, of course, the current administration go much further," Rector said. "We are seeing people with visas revoked, we’re seeing blatant assaults on obviously the First Amendment and that’s why everybody is here. It is extremely important that we defend all of our colleagues."
Conclusion
The protest at the University of Houston highlights the growing concerns among students, professors, and union leaders about immigration crackdowns and university funding threats. The revocation of student visas has created a sense of fear and uncertainty among international students, and the university’s response has been criticized for being inadequate. The establishment of a sanctuary for students to protest without fear of immigration enforcement on campus is a key demand of the protesters. As the national call for action continues, it remains to be seen how the university and the government will respond to these concerns.
