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Fresh Air

ICE Campus Arrests & The 'Struggle For The Soul' Of America

Apr 2, 2025
Daniel Kanstroom, a respected Professor at Boston College Law School and an expert in immigration, dives into the alarming trend of ICE arrests targeting international students on U.S. campuses. He highlights the chilling message these round-ups send, illustrating the human cost and legal challenges faced by non-citizens. Kanstroom explores the erosion of civil liberties and discusses the historical roots of birthright citizenship, emphasizing its significance. The conversation sheds light on America's identity crisis around immigration and calls for urgent reform.
44:34

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Aggressive immigration enforcement is instilling fear among international students, prompting some to self-deport to evade potential legal troubles.
  • The legal ambiguity surrounding First Amendment rights for visa holders highlights the tension between government authority and constitutional protections for non-citizens.

Deep dives

The Crackdown on International Students

Recent arrests of international students on U.S. college campuses highlight a concerning trend in immigration enforcement. One notable case involves a Turkish Ph.D. student whose valid visa was revoked without warning, leading to her public arrest by masked agents. This incident reflects a broader pattern of detentions at various universities, indicating that even students with legal status are increasingly vulnerable to aggressive immigration policies. The chilling effect of these actions has raised alarms about the implications for academic freedom and the rights of non-citizens in the U.S.

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