The Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition led a rally at the Sample Gates on April 10 after some members lost their visas. The union often repeated the slogan "an injury to one is an injury to all."
(Alaina Davis, WTIU)
About 150 people rallied with the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition Thursday at the Sample Gates after the federal government revoked visas for Indiana University international students.
The coalition, a union representing IU graduate student workers, confirmed on social media Wednesday some members lost their visas. The protesters demanded IU administrators, such as President Pamela Whitten, do more to protect international students. International students without visas risk deportation and arrest, sometimes preventing them from finishing their degree.
The union didn't name or provide an exact number of students impacted, citing safety concerns.At least two members had their visas revoked.IU also hasn’t provided an exact number.
It’s unclear whether IU students' change in status is related to campus activism, as it is for students elsewhere in the country.
IGWCspokesperson David Garner said the union is pushing for IU to protect students on campus.
“International graduate students are already sort of doubly penalized, because they can't work second jobs to make more money,” he said. “They're thousands of miles from home, from family, from resources, so we really want the admin to stick out their neck for them here.”
Neither Indiana University officials or the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition confirmed an exact number of students who lost their visas. (Aubrey Wright, WTIU)
But international student activists such as PhD candidate Quan Le Thien say it won’t stop them from exercising free speech.
“I was involved with the Graduate Workers Union, as well as other social activism on campus, and I just think that it's important for me to do the right thing in this environment,” he said.
Le Thien came from Vietnam to study physics at IU. As an international student and worker, he’s in a particularly vulnerable position.
“Considering the state of the world right now, it’s a hard thing to prepare for anything,” he said.
IU Bloomington Provost Rahul Shrivastav said at a Faculty Council meeting on April 8 the federal government has jurisdiction over revoking visas, and a small number of students have been affected. Hannah L. Buxbaum, IU vice president for international affairs, said on April 1 the terminations are not reported to universities.Administrators have to track the changes in an online system managed by ICE.
IU spokespeople didn’t respond in time for publication.
Speakers included international students, Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition members and professors. (Aubrey Wright, WTIU)
Protesters demanded stronger and more specific assurances, such as guarantees that international students can complete their programs regardless of visa status.
“We know IU could do more to protect us,” Timothy Biewer-Heisler said to the crowd. “They could advocate for us. They could obstruct [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement], and we know they have an army of lawyers they could sic on the criminals attacking us. But they won’t if we don’t make them.”
They also want clearer communication from the university.
“We didn't learn about the fact that we have colleagues having this done to them from the university,” Le Thien said. “We learned it from local newspaper, from you guys’ interview with the provost. And it is frustrating because it's a simple thing that they can just send us email.”
The union’s work has focused on increasing pay for graduate workers and union recognition by the university. On April 5, the union launched a petition demanding IU administration protect funding and give raises to graduate workers. The union also prepared a rapid-response plan for ICE activity on campus. The plan creates a pathway for an emergency strike if the union’s General Assembly approves it.
“This is why we are planning our strikes, not for a living wage or representation, but for the basic safety we deserve,” Biewer-Heisler said. “Safety for the people who run this university. Safety for the people giving their time, blood and effort to make this school great.”
This story has been updated.
Aubrey is our higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her at aubmwrig@iu.edu or follow her on X @aubreymwright.
