War vet arrested for protesting ICE

The arrest of an Indian American Afghanistan war veteran on federal conspiracy charges for participating in an anti-ICE protest in Spokane, Washington state, has ignited fears of escalating attacks...

The Rebel Yellow - Issue #116

The Trump administration is proposing new limits on student and journalist visas, raising alarm in higher ed and immigrant communities already hit by rising deportations and surveillance. ICE just reactivated a spyware deal with an Israeli firm, while an Indian American war vet faces prison over an anti-ICE protest. Meanwhile, COVID cases are rising again in California, and a new study finds Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have the highest stroke risk in the U.S. Overseas, deadly protests rock Indonesia, China flexes military power with Russia and North Korea, and Eric Trump goes viral for getting tossed out of a sumo ring.

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Trump admin to limit visa durations for students, journalists

The Trump administration has proposed new regulations that would impose fixed time limits on visas for foreign students, cultural exchange visitors and media members, replacing the current flexible “duration of status” system that has been in place since 1978.

What you need to know: The changes, which were proposed last week, would cap F visas for international students and J visas for exchange visitors at four years maximum, while I visas for foreign media would be limited to 240 days with extension options. Currently, these visa holders can remain in the U.S. for the duration of their program or employment without fixed time limits.

“For too long, past Administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amounts of taxpayer dollars and disadvantaging U.S. citizens,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said. The public has 30 days to comment on the measure, which mirrors a 2020 proposal that was later withdrawn by the Biden administration.

Why this matters: The changes could significantly affect the 1.6 million international students on F visas. Overall, Chinese nationals represent roughly 25% of all foreign students. A July 2025 report from the Institute of International Education (IIE) shows that international student enrollment has already dropped, with 35% of surveyed schools reporting decreased applications this fall compared to 17% the previous year. “

It will certainly act as an additional deterrent to international students choosing to study in the United States, to the detriment of American economies, innovation and global competitiveness,” said Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Dig deeper: The visa restrictions disproportionately impact Asian populations, who comprise approximately 13 million immigrants and represent the largest share of temporary visa holders nationwide. Enforcement has already intensified, with the State Department revoking over 6,000 student visas this year — nearly four times more than the same period in 2024 — primarily for alleged overstays and legal violations.

Simultaneously, the administration is reviewing over 55 million valid visa holders through “continuous vetting” that includes social media monitoring and requires applicants to disable privacy settings during visa interviews. New screening protocols also target “anti-American ideologies or activities,” though the State Department has not clearly defined these terms.

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Afghanistan war vet arrested and charged for protesting ICE

The arrest of an Indian American Afghanistan war veteran on federal conspiracy charges for participating in an anti-ICE protest in Spokane, Washington state, has ignited fears of escalating attacks on First Amendment rights under the Trump administration.