Life for international students in California’s universities has turned into a nightmare of censorship and fear. With President Trump’s recent executive order targeting “Hamas sympathizers” and “antisemitism,” students are now walking on eggshells, watching every word they say, and desperately trying to protect their academic futures.

The Chilling Effect

Immagine coming to the United States dreaming of academic freedom, only to discover that speaking out could get you deported. That’s the harsh reality for international students across UC campuses. From Berkeley to UC San Diego, students are self-censoring, scrubbing social media, and avoiding political activism like the plague.

Campus Crackdown

The Trump administration’s broad interpretation of “antisemitism” means students can lose their visa for expressing pro-Palestinian sentiments or criticizing Israeli policies. Student newspapers are even removing bylines and taking down articles to protect international students from potential deportation.

Fighting Back

Despite the fear, some students remain defiant. As one UC Berkeley student powerfully stated, “You should be taking precautions to keep your status and to keep yourself safe, but to also know that if we back down, change will never happen”. The Stanford Daily is even suing the government over these restrictive policies.

The bottom line? Academic freedom in America is under serious threat, and international students are paying the highest price.