College Students Scramble to Erase Online Footprints After Trump’s Deportation Order

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A wave of panic has swept across college campuses as students rush to delete online records of their involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. The sudden purge follows former President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, signed on January 30, which calls for the cancellation of student visas for individuals who have expressed support for Hamas.  

 

In response, The Exponent, an independent newspaper serving Purdue University, announced that it would be removing the names, images, and likenesses of all students involved in such protests since October 7, 2023. The editorial board, writing anonymously, framed the decision as a stand against what they called a violation of free speech. "We refuse to be party to such a blatant violation of the First Amendment rights of potentially hundreds of Purdue students," the board stated. They further pledged that, moving forward, the publication would not include identifying information about protestors in either print or online coverage until Trump's order is overturned.  

 

Purdue University, a well-regarded public research institution in Indiana, clarified that it has no official ties to The Exponent, which operates as an independent foundation. Seth Nelson, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, is known for covering social issues such as poverty and drug addiction.  

 

Trump’s executive order specifically targets non-citizens living in the U.S. on visas, including students, who have participated in illegal activities during demonstrations that followed the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Declaring a tough stance on campus radicalism, Trump vowed to take action against those he described as "Hamas sympathizers."  

 

“To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice… we will find you, and we will deport you,” Trump stated. He further emphasized that his administration would aggressively prosecute acts of violence, vandalism, and terroristic threats targeting American Jews.

 

This directive follows a series of pro-Palestinian demonstrations at universities across the country, with students at institutions like Columbia University demanding that their schools sever financial ties with Israel and urging the U.S. government to end military aid to the country.  

 

Trump’s latest order gives federal agencies 60 days to develop strategies for identifying and addressing anti-Semitic threats. His strong pro-Israel stance was further reinforced this week when he welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House—the first foreign leader to visit since Trump’s return to office.  

 

During the meeting, Trump reiterated his vision for Gaza’s future, stating that he would take control of the war-torn territory and transform it into the "Riviera of the Middle East." His administration has long made clear that combating anti-Semitism and campus radicalism is a priority.  

 

This is not the first time Trump has taken executive action on the issue. In 2019, during his first term, he signed an order expanding the interpretation of the Civil Rights Act to include protections against anti-Semitism, ensuring that federally funded programs could not engage in such discrimination.  

 

With this latest order, Trump has once again signaled that his administration will not tolerate what he views as anti-American and anti-Semitic rhetoric on college campuses, leaving many international students fearful of the consequences of their past activism.

 

Based on a report by Daily Mail 2025-02-08