DeKALB – Over 100 protesters gathered on Wednesday at NIU’s Sunken Garden next to the Founders Memorial Library to show their support for international students, faculty and staff following the revocation of at least five international student visas at NIU and over 1,000 across the U.S. over the past several months.
Protests have occurred nationally over the past few weeks against President Donald Trump’s administration’s Social Security cuts, reductions in federal funding, lack of due process for deportations and visa revocations and more. Universities across the country took part in a national Day of Action on April 17 for many of the same reasons.
The event started at noon and was organized by the Instructors Chapter of UPI 4100 on NIU’s campus and the NIU-United Faculty Alliance as a day of action to protest the infringement upon the legal rights of international students.
International students, staff and faculty received legal advice to not attend the protest due to potential ICE threats to them and their families. The Provost’s office also advised students not to attend the demonstration.
Protestors carried signs such as “Protect our students” and “Support international scholars,” highlighting community concern over Trump’s administration’s revocation of international student visas and the deportation of international students across the country for their beliefs.
Organizers handed out flyers with a QR code leading to a website which can be used to generate a customizable letter to an elected representative.
“I’m showing up to say that we will not be silent. They’re working on overdrive every day to make sure that anyone who disagrees with them and their dangerous policies, or has the nerve to speak out about it, is scared into submission,” Rep. Lauren Underwood said.
Underwood discussed the lack of due process and transparency in the revocation of student visas across the country.
“They’ve been identifying these students through AI programs and they’ve been sending I.C.E. to campuses across the country, all without transparency and due process,” Underwood said. “Our international students may not be here (the protest) for their own safety, but we can stand firm and represent them and protect them because we are not afraid and we will not be silenced.”
Underwood emphasized the importance of citizens knowing their rights.
“We should all know what the Fourth Amendment says, what the Fifth Amendment says, what the Sixth Amendment says. We should all know our rights,” Underwood said. “As American citizens, so many of us are clueless. We just have this idea that something may not be right. In this moment, we have to know with certainty and we have to stand firm on this legal foundation that our democracy was built on.”
When asked by the Northern Star whether she had plans to run for Senate following Sen. Dick Durbin’s decision to not seek reelection, Underwood did not deny any plan to run.
“We will have an announcement and we will have a statement,” Underwood said.
DeKalb County Democrats Chair Anna Wilhelmi spoke on the power of protest and the importance of defending Constitutional rights.
“It is a demand that we enforce the First Amendment of the United States Constitution,” Wilhelmi said. “For students to be arrested for speaking out against genocide or the loss of family members in Palestine, or whatever the reason, they have the absolute right – whether they are citizens in this country or not – if they are present, they are 100% protected by the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment.”
University Professionals of Illinois President John Miller spoke on the dangers of pushing students away from higher education.
“One of the reasons why people come to the United States is the strength of our higher education system. And we have a president and administration fighting us and trying to undercut it. So we’re going to stand up today and fight back,” Miller said.
Second year graduate student Silas Gallagher said they attended the protest to exercise their First Amendment right and to speak up for international students.
“NIU is one of the most affordable schools for international students to come to. If our international students are being targeted, it will not be a hub of safety for students anymore, it’ll just dampen the culture and diversity that we have on this campus,” Gallagher said.
