Upon the Atlantic shores of New York, approximately half a mile from the Statue of Liberty, lies an island that historically was the gateway to the New World. Ellis Island was once the focal point of entry for the majority of immigrants entering the land of the free, processing around 70 per cent of all those who wished to enter the US in the first half of the 20th century according to UNESCO figures. Whilst undoubtedly restrictive and arduous in the bureaucracies and processes that arrivals had to undergo (as with most immigration systems today), the land mass nonetheless represents something more than what was a basic governmental function. In the words of the Ellis Island Foundation themselves, it today serves as a “poetic symbol of the American Dream”.
Much like the island itself, however, such ideals are steadfastly becoming a relic of the past. Indeed, it would perhaps be more honest to place an asterisk next to the American Dream, as with any of the values of hope or opportunity that Ellis Island is supposed to represent. It is becoming increasingly harder to enter, let alone reside, in the land of opportunity, with the new administration beginning to crackdown on all those who wish to come to the US. Most particularly, recent changes to the “F-1” visa, allowing students from abroad to study at American universities and institutions of education, have been somewhat draconian in nature. Indications of what was to come arrived last April, when the State Department began revoking visas under a provision allowing such, if their holders’ presence in the US “would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States”. According to the BBC, 6,000 visas were ultimately revoked, mostly for violations of US law. However, it would appear that many of the revocations were targeted at those who had vocalised support for Palestine, with one doctoral student from Tufts University arrested for allegedly being “engaged in activities in support of Hamas”. This is perhaps no surprise, given the American government’s attitude towards campus protests against the war in the Middle East. Subsequently in May, the State Department announced a pause on all interviews for new visa applications, with Secretary Marco Rubio announcing plans to issue new guidance for the application process. This manifested the next month, with a new “comprehensive and thorough” social media vetting system implemented by all US embassies.
The guidelines certainly draw inspiration from Orwellian writing. As well as being asked for personal travel history, applicants must state all social media accounts they have used in the past five years on what is called a DS-160 Form. The accounts must be set to public and any omission of such information can lead to denial and ineligibility for future visas. The justification given for these new measures is the prevention of threats to national security, with the State Department firmly declaring “a US visa is a privilege, not a right”. Regardless, the guidelines have drawn concern and condemnation in Ireland and elsewhere, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin describing them as “excessive” and former President of the Trinity College Student Union Jenny Maguire labelling them as a “complete escalation”. Indeed, students who underwent the process have described the laborious and uncertain nature of the procedure. One student from Trinity currently on exchange to the University of Florida, who wished to remain anonymous, stated the process was “mostly straightforward” but this was not universal. She noted the pause in interviews, for example, resulted in delays in appointments for many exchange hopefuls, resulting in many having to reschedule their flights. She also commented on the ambiguity of “what officials are looking for” with regard to social media accounts.
The impact of these measures has been immediate. The BBC reported a 17 per cent drop in new international student enrolment at American universities compared to this time last year, with delays and denials the top reason for this decline. The restrictions appear to be among a growing trend of US measures to bolster the border. The H-1B visa, used by employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations, has been another victim of such policies, with President Trump announcing a $100,000 price tag for those who wished to avail of it last September. Apart from the obvious drawbacks of these measures for students and all other targeted visitors, the new visa rules also represent another blow to the US’ diplomatic relations with other nations. Indeed, the measures of this administration display a pattern of withdrawal from multilateralism, as America seeks to close itself off from the rest of the world. It certainly does not assist the nation’s PR but rather reinforces views of isolationism that have been cemented by this administration’s measures to pull away from the international sphere. Furthermore, not only does it continue to weaken its influence abroad, it also hampers future economic benefit. By allowing students and workers alike to come to the US, it can display the opportunity it is so renowned for, incentivising future professionals to move there and contribute to its robust economy. But yet again the US is willing to sacrifice long-term prosperity in favour of short-term populism, with the advantages of the latter remaining to be seen.
The hopes and dreams attached to Ellis Island have become resigned to the history books as the US seeks to close off its “freedoms” to the outside world. The changes to the F-1 visa represent more than a headache to prospective exchange students. They are symbolic of an ever-increasing hostile attitude adopted by the US to the rest of the globe. It is difficult to predict whether further alterations are on the horizon, but if there are it is more than likely President Trump will double-down on his hardline approach. The American Dream is thus becoming little more than a whisper in the halls of what once was a centre of hope in the harbour off Manhattan, growing ever fainter with time.
