Luxembourg students on alert: ACEL advises to avoid studying in the US
Somesh Kesarla Suresh, Unsplash
The Luxembourg student association ACEL has issued an unprecedented statement warning of the dangers of studying in the US. This comes amid the Donald Trump administration's decision to suspend student visas for foreign nationals and tighten oversight of students already in the country.
The crisis erupted after protests at American universities, mostly in favour of Palestine. These actions were labelled "anti-Semitic" by the US authorities. The authorities paid special attention to Harvard, which refused to comply with new government regulations. In response, the university faced funding cuts, bans on admitting foreign students, and became a symbol of the "radical leftist agenda" opposed by the White House. These measures have now spread across the country.
Laurent Schengen, vice president of ACEL, told RTL Radio that the situation is developing rapidly and unpredictably. The association urges students to consider alternatives in Europe or elsewhere, as even those already studying in the US risk losing their visa.
The situation, he said, is depressing: the level of anxiety among students is extremely high. There are real risks of deportation for minor offences, from parking to protesting. At the same time, more and more students fear digital surveillance: ACEL cites cases where social media posts or private conversations transmitted by third parties have triggered reports and audits.
While students can leave the U.S. without problems for now, many fear they won't be able to go back and put off travelling to Luxembourg until their studies are complete.
The U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg confirmed that visa applications are still being accepted, but reminded that students must strictly comply with U.S. laws to maintain their status.
