Deporting Anti-American Foreigners Isn't About Speech Rights
FederalistMAR 19
Court Orders Transfer of Detained Tufts Student to Vermont
Above: People protest in solidarity with Rumeysa Ozturk and Mohsen Mahdawi outside New York Federal Court on May 6, 2025. Image copyright: Selcuk Acar/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
The detention of international students for their political speech represents a dangerous assault on academic freedom and constitutional rights. No one should face imprisonment simply for expressing political views, and the government has failed to provide any evidence linking Öztürk to terrorism. This case sets a chilling precedent that could silence legitimate campus discourse and debate.
Republican narrative
Having a visa to study in America is a privilege, not a right. The government has both the authority and responsibility to revoke visas from foreign students who engage in activities that undermine U.S. foreign policy interests or create hostile environments on campus. International students are here to study, not to become social activists who disrupt university communities.