Trump Administration's Targeting of International Students Sparks Outrage

Immigration attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford has taken the Trump administration to court, fighting for the rights of five international students whose immigration statuses were terminated without notice or explanation. Despite the administration's attempts to block their college educations, Sharma-Crawford has won a temporary restraining order, granting the students a reprieve until May 21. This development has sparked widespread outrage, with the Kansas conference of the American Association of University Professors condemning the administration's actions.

Key Takeaways:

• Five international students, attending Truman State University, Northwest Missouri State University, or Southeast Missouri State University, had their Student and Exchange Visitor Program status revoked by the Trump administration without notice or explanation.
• The students were told they had been "identified in criminal records" but were not provided with any further information or evidence.
• Rekha Sharma-Crawford, an immigration attorney, filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the students' statuses were revoked for minor infractions such as traffic violations, noise complaints, and public intoxication.
• The lawsuit claims that the students had paid all associated fines and had no reason to believe their status would be terminated.
• Yanky Perelmuter, an immigration attorney based in Overland Park, corroborates Sharma-Crawford's claims, stating that most students he has spoken to have minor criminal issues, such as speeding tickets or shoplifting.
• The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has condemned the Trump administration's actions, urging higher education administrators to stop cooperating with federal investigators by providing students' personal information.
• The universities have communicated with the students and provided them with legal resources, but Sharma-Crawford emphasizes the importance of mental health support for affected students.
• Sharma-Crawford believes that the Trump administration's tactics are aimed at intimidating universities and international students, making it harder for them to pursue their education.

Statistics:

• April 24: Rekha Sharma-Crawford filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration on behalf of five international students.
• April 24: A judge granted Sharma-Crawford's motion for a temporary restraining order, halting the Trump administration's revocation of the students' immigration statuses.
• May 5: Sharma-Crawford appeared on the Kansas Reflector podcast, discussing the case and the impact of the Trump administration's actions on international students.
• The students were notified of termination roughly one month before finals, causing significant stress and, in some cases, prompting them to leave the country without seeking legal help.
• 95% of the universities contacted by Kansas Reflector (U of K, KSU, PSU, ESU, WSU, and FHSU) did not respond to questions about the number of international students who had their status terminated and the support provided.

Sources:

• Rekha Sharma-Crawford, immigration attorney, as quoted on the Kansas Reflector podcast.
• Yanky Perelmuter, immigration attorney based in Overland Park, as quoted in the article.
• Kansas conference of the American Association of University Professors (https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/09/kansas-aaup-denounces-trump-administration-attacks-on-international-students/).