International Visa Changes in the US

By Erin Choi

Orange Lutheran High School

Earlier this month, Trump’s administration has decided that students’ visas, whose colleges are changing to online classes, will be banished and students will be sent back to their home country. This change of law is causing many students to drop out of the American college they are in, since it is immensely difficult to keep in track while away from their college. 

As an immigrant to the United States, I believe that this enforcement is definitely unacceptable, as it causes harm to many individuals. First off, this enforcement is unjust towards the internationals as it causes difficulty for them to gain the valuable education that they have paid for. Eliminating their right to own a visa in America is refusing their freedom to remain in the country, which is unacceptable as freedom is given to everyone despite their culture or race. Chris Choi, a junior attending Orange Lutheran High School, agrees on this stance and states, “I think the international students do not deserve this treatment whatsoever. This law should not be enforced.” Moreover, this refusal of visas is causing a ruin of their future as students have come to America to achieve a wider pathway and a chance for their dreams. Many who will be giving up their education to return back will not be able to express their true potential and intelligence. Not only does this cause uncertainty for their future, but it also erases the hard work that they committed while trying to adapt to a new learning environment. This enforcement has to be eliminated as it is simply casting unfair treatment to the students.

As an immigrant to the United States, I believe this enforcement is definitely unacceptable...

Another dilemma this causes is for the colleges themselves. In the United States, about 370,000 internationals from China and 200,000 from India came to enroll in the year of 2018-2019. These students benefited the colleges by raising their education standards and bringing financial gain from their tuition. Now without the abroad students, colleges in the U.S. will struggle from a financial loss and a decrease in the range of their education. Ellie Jeong, also a junior attending Sunny Hills High School claims, “International students have paid their full tuition to receive education. As colleges benefit from them, they should also receive the same.” Lowered reputation and financial support will eventually cause many colleges or schools to become bankrupt. Even though not recognized, international students give out a strong effect on the school’s financial and overall environment. 

To resolve this problem, I think that the enforcement should be removed so students can receive the freedom to remain wherever they please. Even though the worries of this pandemic led to this situation, this law definitely should not have been formed from the start. International students should have the right to attain a visa as freedom is given to anyone.