September 26, 2025

Visa Chaos: What 6 Chinese Students Say

A graphic narrative written and drawn by Rivi Handler-Spitz.

By Rivi Handler-Spitz


Fear of immigration enforcement raids, abrupt deportations and arbitrary visa cancellations continue to upend international students’ daily lives and disrupt their sense of well-being. Below, six humanities Ph.D. students from China studying at U.S. universities recounted their experiences this past summer. Interviewees’ identities have been concealed to protect their anonymity.

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Rivi Handler-Spitz is a professor of Asian languages and cultures at Macalester College.

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