liberal brainwashing centers
The Trump administration’s sweeping policy shifts are poised to dramatically reshape the landscape of higher education in the United States, with profound consequences for college students. From blocking President Biden's student loan forgiveness efforts and dismantling the SAVE repayment plan, to slashing funding for critical biomedical research, the administration has taken a hard turn on issues that directly impact students' financial stability and academic opportunities. Protections for LGBTQ+ students and survivors of sexual assault have been rolled back under revised Title IX guidance, while the recent Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action has further narrowed paths to campus diversity. International students—many of whom are legally present—now face deportation or detention, often for nothing more than expressing criticism of Israel's treatment of Palestinians. As these changes unfold, students across the country are finding themselves at the center of a cultural and political battleground, with their futures increasingly uncertain.
ICE Deports Student Visa Holders for “Antisemitism”
Mahmoud Khalil
Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate, activist, and legal permanent resident, was arrested earlier this month in what supporters say was retaliation for his advocacy for Palestinian rights at Columbia University. He was then transferred by the Department of Homeland Security to a detention center in Louisiana, far from his home and family. His legal team, including the Center for Constitutional Rights, NYCLU, ACLU, and others, argues that his detention is unconstitutional—violating his rights to free speech and due process—and have obtained a court order blocking his deportation.
Khalil’s arrest marks the first publicly known deportation attempt tied to former President Trump’s promised crackdown on student protesters opposing the war in Gaza. The administration argues that by allegedly supporting Hamas, protesters gave up their right to stay in the U.S. An official, McLaughlin, specifically linked Khalil’s arrest to his protest involvement, accusing him of leading activities aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.
Rumeysa Ozturk
Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University, was arrested near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, as she was heading to an Iftar dinner. According to her attorney, she was physically restrained by plainclothes immigration officers who only showed badges after detaining her. Ozturk was later transferred to an ICE facility in Louisiana, despite no charges being filed against her. Her visa was terminated, and a federal judge has since blocked her deportation while determining the legality of her detention.
Ozturk’s arrest is part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown targeting students allegedly involved in pro-Palestinian protests and accused of supporting Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. DHS claims she engaged in such activities, though no specific evidence has been provided. Her case closely parallels that of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist also detained under similar allegations. Both arrests involved secretive tactics, cross-state transfers, and are drawing legal and civil rights challenges over constitutional concerns.
In March 2024, Rumeysa Ozturk co-wrote a student newspaper op-ed criticizing Tufts University's response to calls for divestment from companies linked to Israel over the Gaza conflict. The piece cited serious allegations against Israel, including possible genocide. Her brother, Asim, believes she is being targeted for expressing these views.
student visa purges
The Trump administration has revoked hundreds of international student visas, forcing many students to leave the U.S. within days. The cancellations, which have impacted students across multiple states, have caused confusion and distress, as some students were unaware their visas were canceled until receiving unexpected notifications. Immigration experts and university officials have expressed concern, noting the broad scope of these cancellations, which seem to target students involved in pro-Palestinian protests or minor legal issues. The visa revocations have led to protests and legal challenges, with organizations like the National Immigration Project pushing back. Universities are offering support to affected students, but many are uncertain about their ability to appeal the cancellations. This move has sparked concerns about the suppression of free speech and the potential impact on international students' contributions to American campuses and communities.
DOGE Cuts Biomedical Research Funding
Federal funding cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are threatening current medical programs, future research, and local economies, according to infectious disease experts. These cuts jeopardize jobs, lifesaving research, and institutions that are major economic drivers in their regions, like Case Western and Johns Hopkins. NIH research funding, which generated $94.6 billion in economic activity and supported over 400,000 jobs in 2024 alone, is now at risk. Experts argue these investments save lives and fuel the economy, warning that the ongoing cuts could lead to widespread layoffs and stalled medical advancements.
Trump and Student Loans
Removing the SAVE plan & IDR plans
The Trump administration’s Department of Education has quietly halted enrollment in all income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, including SAVE, Income-Based Repayment, and others that offer affordable payments and eventual loan forgiveness. This move followed a court ruling that extended an injunction against the SAVE plan, part of a lawsuit by Republican-led states. Without warning, the department removed both online and paper applications for these plans, leaving borrowers confused and uncertain about their repayment and forgiveness options as the impact of the decision becomes clearer.
Removing Loan Forgiveness Options
President Trump’s recent overhaul of the student loan system has left millions of borrowers facing sharply increased monthly payments and uncertainty. The administration has halted applications for income-driven repayment plans and limited eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), affecting teachers, healthcare workers, and others in public service. Many are now struggling to budget, some considering default, while broken application systems and unclear guidelines add to the chaos. Advocates warn that these changes are stripping away key borrower protections and worsening the financial burden for working families.
Narrowing Eligibility for PSLF (Public Student Loan Forgiveness)
President Trump signed an executive order restricting eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The order states that employees of organizations involved in activities like illegal immigration, human smuggling, and public disorder will be excluded from PSLF. While the language is vague and lacks specifics, experts note it could affect many nonprofits, especially those working in immigration, civil rights, or diversity-related fields. However, any changes won’t apply retroactively—past qualifying work will still count toward loan forgiveness.
biden's student loan forgiveness
A U.S. judge temporarily blocked President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan, siding with six Republican state attorneys general who challenged the policy. The ruling by Judge Matthew Schelp prevents the administration from canceling student debt until the lawsuit is resolved. The plan, which aims to forgive up to $73 billion in student loans for approximately 27.6 million borrowers, was initially proposed by the Department of Education after two previous attempts were blocked by courts.
The states argue that the Department of Education overstepped its authority by attempting to implement such a policy through regulation rather than legislation. The Biden administration, which had campaigned on providing debt relief, expressed disappointment with the ruling, asserting it would continue to fight for the policy in court. The plan targets individuals who owe more than they initially borrowed, those who have been repaying loans for 20-25 years, and others eligible for prior forgiveness programs. Critics, including Republicans, argue the policy is an overreach and unfair to non-college-educated Americans.
affirmative action ruling (2023)
Colorblind Admissions
The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision has effectively ended race-conscious admission programs at colleges and universities, invalidating affirmative action policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. In a 6-3 decision, the conservative majority, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, ruled that colleges must adopt colorblind criteria for admissions. This marks a significant reversal of previous rulings that allowed race to be considered as one factor in admissions decisions to promote diversity
While the court acknowledged the importance of considering how race impacts individuals' lives, it emphasized that using race as a factor in admissions is unconstitutional. Justice Clarence Thomas, in a concurring opinion, argued that affirmative action stigmatizes minorities. Conversely, justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, arguing that the decision entrenches racial inequality in education.
Impact of the Ruling
The ruling has sparked concern that minority representation, particularly among African American students, will decrease in college admissions, a trend observed in places where affirmative action was previously banned. The court did leave room for race to be considered in specific contexts, such as military academies, and noted that colleges can still assess how race has shaped an applicant's life experiences.
This decision is expected to have far-reaching impacts beyond higher education, potentially affecting race-based policies in employment and other sectors. Public opinion on affirmative action is divided, with some polls showing support for race-neutral policies, while others favor diversity initiatives. The ruling has set the stage for ongoing debates about how to achieve racial equity in education and beyond.
Title IX Rule Change - Less LGBTQ+ Protections & Sexual Assault Protections
The U.S. Department of Education has issued new guidance requiring schools and universities to return to policies set during President Donald Trump's first term regarding sexual misconduct complaints. The guidance mandates live hearings and more protections for students accused of misconduct, following rules established by former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. This shift comes after a federal judge in Kentucky overturned the Biden administration's Title IX rules, which aimed to expand protections for LGBTQ+ students and redefine sexual harassment.
Under the Trump-era rules, schools are required to hold live hearings, allowing accused students to cross-examine their accusers, which was removed by the Biden administration. The DeVos policy also narrowed the definition of sexual harassment and reduced the liability of schools, holding them accountable only for "deliberate indifference."
The decision follows legal challenges from several states against the Biden administration’s rules, with critics arguing that they infringed on free speech and forced schools to accommodate transgender students in ways that conflicted with their sex at birth. Advocates of the Trump-era policies argue that they offer fairer treatment for accused students, while victims' rights groups say they could retraumatize survivors and deter reporting. The guidance also directs schools to reorient ongoing investigations to comply with the 2020 rules.
college educated adults lean democrat
In the 2024 presidential election, college-educated and college-aged voters strongly favored Vice President Kamala Harris over Donald Trump, highlighting a growing political divide based on education. Exit polls showed that 55% of college graduates supported Harris, while 56% of non-college-educated voters backed Trump. The gap was most pronounced among white voters and men, especially non-college-educated white men, who favored Trump by large margins. In contrast, Black and Hispanic voters showed little difference in candidate preference based on education. The trend reflects a broader shift over the past decade, with college-educated voters increasingly leaning Democratic amid growing conservative criticism of higher education as liberal-leaning and out of touch.