Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Office Of Travel & Tourism
Mount Holyoke College is providing a variety of resources for students, staff and faculty to understand and respond to the impact of federal decisions.
By Quill Nishi-Leonard ’27
Copy Chief
Editor’s note: The information contained in this article is accurate at the time of publication, but could rapidly change. Mount Holyoke College community members should rely on official communications from the College for the most up-to-date information regarding federal actions and their potential impact on students.
On April 14, 2025, members of the Mount Holyoke College community gathered for a closed forum to discuss recent federal actions on immigration, travel and more. The event was held in response to a recent string of executive orders and federal decisions that have directly impacted hundreds, if not thousands, of students studying in the United States.
Context for recent immigration developments
Over one month ago, Columbia graduate student and green card holder Mahmoud Khalil was arrested "in the lobby of his university-owned apartment," according to AP News. Khalil was the first of many: BBC reported on April 9 that about "a dozen" international students have been detained, while hundreds more have had their visas revoked. A few weeks after Khalil’s arrest, a Tufts University student, Rümeysa Öztürk, was detained on March 25; the cause for her detainment is widely believed to be that she co-authored an op-ed criticizing her university's response to pro-Palestine activism on campus.This number rose again yesterday, April 14, when another Columbia student, Mohsen Mahdawi, was taken into custody. According to a court filing by his attorneys, Mahdawi has held a green card for ten years and "was attending a naturalization interview … when he was arrested and detained by [Department of Homeland Security] officers."
Khalil, Mahdawi and Öztürk have all been detained, in part, because the Trump administration has accused them of engaging in antisemitic activity or speech through their pro-Palestine activism. On April 14, The Washington Post described a memo from the State Department stating that "the Trump administration had not produced any evidence showing that [Öztürk] engaged in antisemitic activities," a statement supported by her university, who wrote that her speech "was not in violation of any Tufts policies."
Many other students have reportedly been detained or had their visas revoked for political speech or minor criminal infractions, with the ACLU of New Mexico describing recent visa revocations as "arbitrary" and "deeply troubling." Secretary of State Marco Rubio has justified federal actions by citing the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, which contains a provision allowing for the deportation of noncitizens provided "the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe [the noncitizen's presence] would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences." This provision was found unconstitutional by judge Maryanne Trump '58 in a 1996 decision, in which she argued that it was too vague and conferred too much power onto a single individual, the Secretary of State. Today, the statute still stands, now mobilized by the Trump administration to revoke student visas and detain international students.
Mount Holyoke’s response to federal actions and communications
President Danielle Holley began the April 14 community forum with a brief overview of how recent federal actions and decisions have impacted Mount Holyoke College administration, faculty and staff. Since the last forum was hosted in January, the College has lost grant funding from the National Institute of Health — also known as the NIH — for several research projects. For one such project, the College was informed that "gender identity work [is] not scientific." According to Holley, the College is "devastated" by the Trump administration's decision to revoke NIH grants, and is looking into other alternative means of funding research.
As of April 14, the College has not received any letters or notification from the government regarding federal investigations. While the University of Massachusetts Amherst is currently being investigated by the Department of Education for alleged "antisemitic harassment and discrimination," Mount Holyoke administrators currently do not believe Mount Holyoke College is the subject of any such investigations.
Concerns surrounding immigration made up the bulk of the forum, as federal actions in immigration law and policy have had far-reaching implications, particularly for international and noncitizen students. The College's administration is currently working alongside the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives and other members of the Five College Consortium to monitor all new developments in immigration and travel.
In an interview with Mount Holyoke News after the forum, Holley reaffirmed the College's commitment to communicating with students as the College learns of relevant federal actions. "It's really important that we keep up different levels of communication … that we're able to communicate in ways that meet people where they are and help them to feel comfortable," Holley said. While community forums will not be held over the course of summer break, the College will "think carefully about how we [communicate] and really try to make sure that it is … effective."
The College has also created a resource page for students that can be accessed after logging into MyMountHolyoke. Located alongside "Human Resources" and "Internships and Lynk" is a page titled "Federal Actions Resources," which "collects and shares resources for students, faculty, and staff in response to changes in the federal landscape," according to the website description. Students can check regularly to find written resources concerning new developments. Currently, a broad range of supportive items — from ACLU fact sheets on immigrants' rights to an organization offering "support for transgender and gender-diverse individuals" — are listed on the website. If students find themselves in need of a written resource, they can email the Office of the President at rmason@mtholyoke.edu for assistance.
Visas and visa revocations
Under previous presidential administrations, when the government wanted to prevent a student with an F1 or J1 visa from continuing their studies in the U.S., they would typically just terminate the student's visa. According to the University of Southern California, the Department of Homeland Security has now begun to invoke "its inherent authority to terminate student SEVIS records itself." According to the Department of Homeland Security, SEVIS records are used to keep track of F1 and J1 visa holders. When SEVIS records are terminated, the visa they are attached to is typically revoked too; however, unlike typical visa revocations, SEVIS terminations automatically render students "out of status," according to the University of Indiana Indianapolis.
Holley said that the College is checking students' SEVIS records daily, as the federal government is currently not notifying colleges and universities when their students' visas are revoked.
At least 1,100 students have had their SEVIS records terminated — including 13 at UMass Amherst — but none of those terminations have been at Mount Holyoke, according to Holley. The federal government typically informs international students that their visas have been revoked by emailing the email account associated with their visa application. Mount Holyoke will also reach out to international students if their SEVIS records are terminated.
Students who are concerned or have questions about the standing of their visa, SEVIS records, or overall immigration status should "be in touch with Jenny [Medina]," the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives' senior immigration advisor, according to President Holley. "She's very experienced, used to working with visa holders," Holley said.
The College is not able to monitor the status of students' green cards, so green card holders should consult with an attorney if they are concerned about their status.
If any students would like to speak with an immigration attorney or require legal assistance, Holley says the College "[has] the ability to connect students with an initial consultation with an immigration lawyer to help them find counsel."
Travelling internationally and domestically
When entering or exiting the United States, Holley recommends that all students take precautions. Constitutional protections are less strong at the border, especially when trying to enter the U.S. The ACLU says on their website that Customs and Border Protection "claims the authority to search and confiscate laptops, mobile phones, digital cameras, and other electronic devices upon entry to the United States, without any suspicion of wrongdoing." Students should only bring devices that they are comfortable with border officials potentially accessing in and out of the country. According to the ACLU, even citizens may experience delays or detainment if they refuse to answer questions or cooperate with border officials, so all students should be mindful of what they're carrying.
In case of detainment, all students who plan to travel abroad should memorize the phone numbers of one to two individuals who live in the U.S. These should be individuals who are able to help students get in contact with a lawyer, or who are lawyers themselves. If students do not have a trusted friend, family member or attorney located in the U.S., they should memorize the phone number of Public Safety and Service, who can inform the College of their detainment and connect them with legal resources and counsel. Public Safety can be called at +1 (413) 538-2304.
Students should also check and update their emergency contact information so that Public Safety has a point of contact in case of detainment. Students' emergency contact information can be accessed on MyMountHolyoke by opening up the "Students" self-service menu and then the "Demographics & Contact Info" submenu.
The current state of heightened border security extends to everyone entering and exiting the U.S., not just students. With Commencement coming up, friends and family of students may also want to exercise caution when entering the country and interacting with border officials.
At the community forum, administrators advised that international students carry proof of their legal status — for example, their passport and immigration documentation — at all times when they are in the U.S., even if it's just in the form of a picture on their phone. When leaving the country, all students should bring physical copies of the documents they need to enter and exit the United States. If international students have any questions about what documents they should be carrying, they can contact Senior Immigration Advisor Jennifer Medina at the McCulloch Center.
The College is currently accepting applications for summer housing. Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Marcella Runnell encouraged international students who may need to stay in the U.S. to fill it out, even if they aren't sure about their plans. Students will not be automatically billed for applying, and those who may experience financial difficulty paying the College's housing fees can apply to the College's Safety Net Fund. Summer housing applications are due in one week on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Social media and other legal considerations
In an April 9 press release, the Department of Homeland Security stated, "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services … will begin considering aliens’ antisemitic activity on social media … as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests." Many believe this is an expansion of previous actions the administration has taken against pro-Palestine activists, such as the detainment of Mahmoud Khalil. Pro-Israel advocacy group J-Street has described this new policy as "insincere" and "totalitarian" in a statement to NPR.
Holley advised students to be aware of what they post and share on social media. "We're in an environment in which I hope people will be mindful of the idea that unfortunately, we are not living in a country free of surveillance, that the federal government has announced that they will be surveilling — not just visa holders and green card holders — but their own citizens, for ideology that they do not agree with," Holly said during the interview with Mount Holyoke News.
International students on F1 and J1 visas should also remember that while they are located in Massachusetts, they are subject to federal law. Certain activities that are legal in some states but illegal federally — for example, smoking marijuana — are illegal for students on visas to do everywhere in the U.S., even in Massachusetts.
"[If there are] things that you do not want the government to see: Make it harder for the government to see them. Make sure that your social media pages are private. And if there are ideas on your social media page that you prefer not to expose to the government, then I would tell students, faculty and staff … they probably don't want to put those views online," Holley said.
Community supports are available
While students may be struggling as a result of recent executive orders and federal actions, they don't have to struggle alone. The Division of Student Life maintains a detailed web page listing supports available to students on campus.
A schedule of upcoming Be Well programming can be accessed from their respective website as well, with several student support groups convening weekly. There are also three Drop-in Talkin’ sessions left this semester, which are first-come, first-served "informal, confidential, and free consultations with clinicians from the MHC Counseling Service” held in Blanchard Community Center, according to the Embark event listings.
The upcoming open hours for the College's cultural centers, which serve as safe spaces for students of historically marginalized identities, can be accessed on Embark by searching for "open hours" under the "Events" page.
Open access counseling appointments will also open up soon, allowing for students to schedule an appointment with and see a clinician within 24 hours. According to the College's Facebook, appointments are available on a "first-come, first-served basis" and "are for any student in need of support, consultation, or connection." Students can book an appointment with a clinician by calling +1 (413) 538-2037 or by logging into MyMountHolyoke and selecting "Counseling Service: Online Scheduling and Forms" under "MHC Tools."
"We provide all kinds of healing spaces, affinity spaces, places for people to find support. [While] much of this is … about the law and ICE enforcement, it's also about an environment of fear and uncertainty," Holley said. "We want people to feel that they are surrounded by not just legal resources, but community resources and spaces that help them to navigate what is a really difficult moment."
Madeleine Diesl ’28 contributed fact-checking.