The information gathered alleged that there is an uncertainty sweeping across U.S. university campuses with Ghanaian students also at risk.
Reports suggest international students in the US especially African students are suddenly facing visa revocations and unexpected deportation orders.
According to reports, dozens of Ghanaian and Nigerian students have recently received U.S. immigration authorities messages stating, “ Your visa has been revoked. You must leave the country within seven days”.
Under the second term of the Trump administration, student visa holders are now being subjected to the same aggressive policies as undocumented migrants.
It has been revealed that in multiple cases, visa cancellations have occurred without prior notice only for the students to discover the change after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials stormed their dormitories or approached them in public spaces.
The information gathered suggests some students have also faced visa revocation after attending peaceful rallies or being involved in minor legal incidents such as traffic violations.
Once a visa is revoked the students are rarely offered any chance to appeal which is troubling.
Ghanaian students in the USA have been urged to avoid legal trouble, no matter how minor and also think carefully about public political expression.
Education advocates have been calling on Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat to improve support structures for citizens studying abroad.
Meanwhile, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana has established a special department in its diplomatic missions abroad to prioritize and cater for the needs of students.
The special department, dubbed ‘Students Desks’ has been created in 11 countries.
These 11 countries are locations where a high number of Ghanaian students are currently studying, but will however in the shortest possible time cover all diplomatic missions following this pilot phase.
Diplomatic missions where these Student Desks have been created are: Abidjan, Beijing, Belgrade, Cotonou, Havana, Lome, London, Moscow, Rabat, Rome and Ottawa.
In a Facebook post, Ablakwa assured Ghanaians that embassy officials responsible for this duty will be held accountable, submitting monthly reports to the Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau for onward transmission to the Foreign Minister.
The Foreign Minister further highlighted the Mahama-led administration’s commitment to ensuring that Ghanaian students abroad, particularly those on government scholarships, receive proper care and the necessary support to settle in and study effectively.
