Rice should commit to protecting its international students
Last week’s news that five international students – three current students and two recent alumni – have suddenly lost their visas should alarm anyone who values this campus’s global community. The federal government’s “Catch and Revoke” program has already revoked the visas of hundreds of students from universities across the country, raising widespread fears about the stability of international study in the U.S.
Yes, Rice has publicly reaffirmed its support for these individuals — but a simple statement of solidarity, without concrete follow-through, does little to protect them. If Rice truly aims to protect its international students, it must move beyond private attorney referrals and take tangible steps to safeguard the members of our community who are suddenly vulnerable.
First, the university should offer free, dedicated legal counsel to all affected or at-risk students. It’s not enough to say, ‘Here’s a number you can call.’ Many international students cannot take on the cost of an immigration lawyer on top of tuition and living expenses. Providing on-campus legal assistance would help them navigate a system that can feel both terrifying and convoluted.
Second, Rice must commit to private spaces on campus, including residential areas and certain designated buildings, where immigration enforcement officers cannot enter without a warrant. Other universities have taken similar measures to ensure their students feel secure, and it’s time for Rice to follow suit, and use the university’s private property rights to offer some measure of stability for students who suddenly find their status in jeopardy.
Finally, Rice should release a firm, detailed declaration denouncing these visa revocations, akin to those at peer institutions like Tufts University and Harvard University. Right now, it feels as though Rice is keeping a low profile, perhaps to avoid federal scrutiny or losing public funding. But that’s no excuse when students’ futures are on the line.
A principled stand — clarifying that Rice will do everything legally possible to protect its students — sends a stronger signal to both the federal government and our own campus.
If Rice truly believes in being a diverse, inclusive institution, it should take immediate action. Without free legal counsel, dedicated private spaces and a forceful, unequivocal statement, Rice risks leaving its most vulnerable students behind. Let’s hold Rice to the standard its international community deserves.
Senior Editor Riya Misra was recused due to her corresponding reporting in the news section.
Editor’s Note: Thresher editorials are collectively written by the members of the Thresher’s editorial board. Current members include Sarah Knowlton, Kathleen Ortiz, Juliana Lightsey, Riya Misra, James Cancelarich, Noa Berz, Jenna Perrone, Arman Saxena, Andersen Pickard and Evie Vu.
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