Engaging in Free Expression as International Students
The Universities of Wisconsin will comply with all applicable laws and are committed to cooperating with law enforcement within the constraints of the law and our own delegated responsibilities.
Free Expression is a cornerstone of Universities of Wisconsin’s values and the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment rights. It is very important to understand university policies and state and federal laws regarding freedom of expression and what is protected expression versus breaking the law.
International students are protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution when they are in the United States as F-1 or J-1 students. They are allowed to participate in lawful public protests and demonstrations. However, as non-immigrant students, it is important to be aware of how expressive activity, such as participation in a protest or demonstration, may impact your F-1 or J-1 nonimmigrant status.
If you are arrested or detained by police for violating state or federal law, an arrest record can impact your nonimmigrant student status, even if all charges against you are dropped. This may lead to your F-1/J-1 student visa being revoked by the U.S. Department of State, which means that your current visa is no longer valid. Depending on the circumstances, an arrest could lead to deportation or a bar to enter the U.S. in the future.
Address any questions about your status with your International Student Services office.
We encourage students who are interested in participating in protests or other forms of activism to understand their rights.
Practicing Free Expression as an International Student
- Check out these resources:
- Universities of Wisconsin Civil Dialogue Resources
- Universities of Wisconsin Policy & Legal Resources
- Communication to UW Campus regarding agents visiting facilities
- Follow your universities policies
- Carry all student identification (ID, passport, visa)
Know Your Rights
You have the right to remain silent and not discuss your citizenship or immigration status with the police, immigration agents, or other officials.
Executive Order 14188: Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism
On January 29, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14188, parts of which directly impact nonimmigrant alien F-1 and J-1 students. The Executive Order Fact Sheet reads, “to all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you. I will also quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses….”
At this time, it is unclear how Executive Order 14188, may impact international students who choose to participate in protests or demonstrations associated with the activities stated in the order.
Credit to UW-Madison International Student Services for their work on this information.