How Universities Can Protect Their Foreign Students

WASHINGTON - March 16, 2025 - PRLog -- U.S. immigration authorities have just arrested two Columbia University students while a third Columbia student, Ranjani Srinivasani, was forced to self deport after her student visa was revoked.

In addition, as part of an investigation into whether it concealed "illegal aliens" on its campus, Homeland Security agents searched two Columbia University residences.

Recognizing the ever-growing risk to its foreign students of encounters with federal authorities, universities have begun passing out "Know Your Rights" cards such as these (https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=&bih=&q=%22know+your+rights%22+cards+ice&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2), and conducting "Know Your Rights" programs like this one (https://www.instagram.com/gwlaw_ic/p/DGRcnGQvwJn/).

But even a 2-sided wallet-sized card cannot include all of the information foreign students may need to know.  Moreover, it cannot include clickable links to automatically call cooperating attorneys (fluent in the student's home language), relevant non-profit organizations, an emergency contact, an embassy or consulate, an office at his university, etc.

Therefore, public interest law professor John Banzhaf, author of a published study (https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=202210...) of how universities can protect their students from a crazed on-campus gunman, suggests that universities provide their students with an app which contains important warnings and other information, clickable links to additional on-line useful information and to groups which can provide emergency assistance, and clickable links to automatically telephone others who can help.

Another advantage of using cell phone apps - rather than cards or programs - to warn foreign students is that cards can be lost or difficult to find in a crowded wallet especially when the student is under stress, and information provided at a meeting weeks or even months earlier can be forgotten.

But apps for cell phones have none of these disadvantages, cost virtually nothing to distribute to students, and can be automatically updated in real time with new or changed information, as well as new telephone numbers to call.

Moreover, since "Know Your Rights" cards are so widely utilized, and therefore regarded by many as useful, the app could also have a link so users can download and print one or more wallet-sized cards for their own use, or for distribution to others, including family members.  As an example, see: Downloadable Larger-Sized Card to Reduce Police Shootings (http://banzhaf.net/carstop.pdf)

http://banzhaf.net/   jbanzhaf3ATgmail.com   @profbanzhaf