Shwe Einthe was about to leave her Washington apartment to grab a bite to eat when an emergency message blared on her cellphone, alerting her to violence at the U.S. Capitol building and a 6 p.m. citywide curfew.

"My first thought was, 'Oh, my God, this feels like dictator Myanmar, like I am back in my developing country,'" said Einthe, an international student at George Washington University. "'This doesn't happen in the States, curfew doesn't happen in the States. That happens in countries like mine.'"

Like other international students in the U.S., Einthe said she was shocked by the violent protests over President Donald Trump's election loss on January 6 — and how closely they resembled political violence some international students have experienced in their home countries.

"My family grew up during a revolution, coup after coup, we lived under a very brutal military dictatorship," said Einthe. "Having experienced martial law and curfew, I'm very familiar with all of that."

International student enrollment in the U.S. was down by 0.9% for the 2018-2019 academic year, according to an annual Open Doors report released in November 2020 by the Institute for International Education (IIE). While the top reasons that academic year for choosing other countries, such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand for study, were cost and immigration barriers in the U.S., students also cited negative political rhetoric, perceived crime, and a feeling of unwelcomeness.

SEE ALSO:

Fewer Foreign Students Enrolling in US College and Universities

"International students and crime is an issue of major international concern, impacting on the lucrative international student market, international relations, host countries' reputations as tolerant and safe," according to "International Students and Crime," published in 2015, and referring to the billions of dollars international students bring to national economies, which reached $42 billion in the U.S. in 2017.

"And perhaps, most significantly, the safety and security of international students, as well as the broader population," wrote the authors, who specified that crime against international students is minimal, but the perception is greater.

Violence on Capitol Hill "reminded us of home, and not in a good way," said Mariana Blanco, a sophomore at Case Western University and originally from Colombia. "Even if it was for completely different reasons, it was mirroring what happens in other countries. The U.S. has always been, at least in my mind, on a higher pedestal. Seeing that those things can also happen here made me second guess my decision of moving here."

SEE ALSO:

Violence, Racism in US Worry Foreign Students

Panama native and Georgetown University student Angeli Nandwani said she felt disillusioned with the U.S., which she called the "father of our continent" because of the aid Panama receives from the U.S.

"I always counted on having the U.S. as a mentor to us, the ones who would help us fix our democracy, but now they've revealed that they also have to fix their democracy," Nandwani said. "For me, it meant that the U.S. was no longer the best guide as to how our governments should look."

Some international students in Washington said they feared the protesters, many of whom were identified as members of white supremacist groups.

Isabela Linares Uscher, a sophomore at American University, said her mother gave her advice for navigating the city during the riots at the Capitol: "Please don't go downtown, and if you do, speak English."

"It was so frustrating because I felt like I had to hide my identity to avoid an uncomfortable situation," the international student said.

After the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, Washington mobilized 25,000 National Guard members for the inauguration of President Joe Biden on January 20. Some international students amended their plans in case of violence in the nation's capital on Inauguration Day.

SEE ALSO:

Military Atmosphere Engulfs US Capital Before Biden Inauguration

"My parents made me move my plane ticket to after the inauguration of President Biden's government because they didn't want me to be in [Washington] D.C.," said Nandwani.

Cedarville University in the U.S. state of Ohio says it’s got more than 140 international students representing 44 countries.

Here, the school interviews Jonathan Sutton, director of international student services. He talks about his job and the opportunities for international students on campus.

Read the full article here.

Morehouse College, a private, historically Black liberal arts college in the U.S. state of Georgia, offers a guide for international students interested in attending the school.

Among the tips to apply and thrive at Morehouse:

• Take advantage of the school’s orientation program
• Turn to the school’s Center for Academic Success for tutoring, support and more
• Immerse yourself in campus life via clubs and societies

Read the full article here.

The administration of President Donald Trump said on Monday it will review Columbia University's federal contracts and grants over allegations of antisemitism, which it says the educational institution has shown inaction in tackling.

Rights advocates note rising antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias since U.S. ally Israel's devastating military assault on Gaza began after Palestinian Hamas militants' deadly October 2023 attack.

The Justice Department said a month ago it formed a task force to fight antisemitism. The U.S. Departments of Health and Education and the General Services Administration jointly made the review announcement on Monday.

"The Federal Government's Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is considering Stop Work Orders for $51.4 million in contracts between Columbia University and the Federal Government," the joint statement said.

The agencies said no contracting actions had been taken yet.

"The task force will also conduct a comprehensive review of the more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments to Columbia University."

The agencies did not respond to requests for comment on whether there were similar reviews over allegations of Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias.

Columbia had no immediate comment. It previously said it made efforts to tackle antisemitism.

College protests

Trump has signed an executive order to combat antisemitism and pledged to deport non-citizen college students and others who took part in pro-Palestinian protests.

Columbia was at the center of college protests in which demonstrators demanded an end to U.S. support for Israel due to the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's assault on Gaza. There were allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia in protests and counter-protests.

During last summer's demonstrations around the country, classes were canceled, some university administrators resigned and student protesters were suspended and arrested.

While the intensity of protests has decreased in recent months, there were some demonstrations last week in New York after the expulsion of two students at Columbia University-affiliated Barnard College and after New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered the removal of a Palestinian studies job listing at Hunter College.

A third student at Barnard College has since been expelled, this one related to the occupation of the Hamilton Hall building at Columbia last year.

The Trump administration is opening new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at five U.S. universities including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, the Education Department announced Monday.

It's part of President Donald Trump's promise to take a tougher stance against campus antisemitism and deal out harsher penalties than the Biden administration, which settled a flurry of cases with universities in its final weeks. It comes the same day the Justice Department announced a new task force to root out antisemitism on college campuses.

In an order signed last week, Trump called for aggressive action to fight anti-Jewish bias on campuses, including the deportation of foreign students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests.

Along with Columbia and Berkeley, the department is now investigating the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Portland State University. The cases were opened using the department's power to launch its own civil rights reviews, unlike the majority of investigations, which stem from complaints.

Messages seeking comment were left with all five universities.
A statement from the Education Department criticized colleges for tolerating antisemitism after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a wave of pro-Palestinian protests that followed. It also criticized the Biden administration for negotiating "toothless" resolutions that failed to hold schools accountable.

"Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses," said Craig Trainor, the agency's acting assistant secretary for civil rights.

The department didn't provide details about the inquiries or how it decided which schools are being targeted. Presidents of Columbia and Northwestern were among those called to testify on Capitol Hill last year as Republicans sought accountability for allegations of antisemitism. The hearings contributed to the resignation of multiple university presidents, including Columbia's Minouche Shafik.

An October report from House Republicans accused Columbia of failing to punish pro-Palestinian students who took over a campus building, and it called Northwestern's negotiations with student protesters a "stunning capitulation."

House Republicans applauded the new investigations. Representative Tim Walberg, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, said he was "glad that we finally have an administration who is taking action to protect Jewish students."

Trump's order also calls for a full review of antisemitism complaints filed with the Education Department since Oct. 7, 2023, including pending and resolved cases from the Biden administration. It encourages the Justice Department to take action to enforce civil rights laws.

Last week's order drew backlash from civil rights groups who said it violated First Amendment rights that protect political speech.

The new task force announced Monday includes the Justice and Education departments along with Health and Human Services.

"The Department takes seriously our responsibility to eradicate this hatred wherever it is found," said Leo Terrell, assistant attorney general for civil rights. "The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is the first step in giving life to President Trump's renewed commitment to ending anti-Semitism in our schools."