Shutting its doors on thinkers won't make America great again

The lawsuit filed on April 11 by four international students against the Department of Homeland Security and other immigration officials, stating that their student immigration status was illegally terminated, which was followed by a court hearing, is not only a legal challenge, but also an urgent alarm bell for the US administration.

The recent wave of student visa cancellations, many carried out without any public explanation or procedural clarity, marks a radical departure from the long-standing tradition of welcoming foreign talent to the United States. Since the end of World War II, the US has been like a magnet for the brightest minds the world over, with international students forming a key pillar of the nation's scientific and technological dominance. Yet under the second Donald Trump administration, this tradition is under threat.

By April 11, as many as 700 international students had their visas revoked — some just weeks before their graduation. Many were abruptly ordered to leave the country, leaving universities scrambling to find ways to allow them to complete their studies remotely. No consistent rationale has been provided for this sweeping crackdown. It appears to be motivated more by ideological fervor than by any sound policy analysis.