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

[Social Media]

 

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

 

 

[thesetat]

These people with visas need to know their place. They are permitted to stay in the US to study but that does not mean they are granted the same rights as an American. Even in Thailand if you spoke out at protests you will be deported with your Visa cancelled. If you break any laws your will be deported just as if you enter illegally you will be deported. Why some members here think it should be different in the US I can not comprehend as it is the same in every country. 

You are invited to retired or study and given a Visa. But you have no rights to the peoples constitutions of those countries to do and act like a citizen does. You are a guest and should act like one without involvement in politics or other controversial things that do not even apply to you because you are not a citizen. 

Get them all out I say, and good for Trump to call them out and let them know they will be deported for their actions that caused so much chaos in the schools. 

 

[wombat]

There is a fine line between free speech and sedition, If you are an overseas student.

Protest in your own country not in the country that is furthering your educatin.

Wanna shoot yourself in the foot and be deported?

Go for it.

[James105]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

We refuse to be party to such a blatant violation of the First Amendment rights of potentially hundreds of Purdue students

 

Leftists standing up for free speech now?   Perhaps they should have thought of this when they were cheering on people losing their jobs or even jailed for "words".  I feel they were warned enough times about winds changing etc.   

[gk10012001]

well, if you post stuff online and you wanted an audience, you never know who may read it.

[gk10012001]

58 minutes ago, thesetat said:

These people with visas need to know their place. They are permitted to stay in the US to study but that does not mean they are granted the same rights as an American. Even in Thailand if you spoke out at protests you will be deported with your Visa cancelled. If you break any laws your will be deported just as if you enter illegally you will be deported. Why some members here think it should be different in the US I can not comprehend as it is the same in every country. 

You are invited to retired or study and given a Visa. But you have no rights to the peoples constitutions of those countries to do and act like a citizen does. You are a guest and should act like one without involvement in politics or other controversial things that do not even apply to you because you are not a citizen. 

Get them all out I say, and good for Trump to call them out and let them know they will be deported for their actions that caused so much chaos in the schools. 

 

Yes as many foreigners that protested in Thailand found out.

[hotsun]

Get em trump. Bag em up ship em off

[hotsun]

11 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

Leftists standing up for free speech now?   Perhaps they should have thought of this when they were cheering on people losing their jobs or even jailed for "words".  I feel they were warned enough times about winds changing etc.   

the hunters have become the hunted and it feels so good

[baansgr]

16 minutes ago, wombat said:

There is a fine line between free speech and sedition, If you are an overseas student.

Protest in your own country not in the country that is furthering your educatin.

Wanna shoot yourself in the foot and be deported?

Go for it.

Exactly ...and just shows what kinda chicken crap they are...deleting their posts, should be proud to stand up for what you believe in but obviously not so proud now...just war mongering fascists

[hotsun]

3 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Exactly ...and just shows what kinda chicken crap they are...deleting their posts, should be proud to stand up for what you believe in but obviously not so proud now...just war mongering fascists

If they were dumb enough to post their thoughts on X then theres nowhere to hide. Elons got em

[Snackbar]

True leadership finally 

[simon43]

Whatever is posted online, stays online!  🙂

[impulse]

29 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Whatever is posted online, stays online! 

 

Forever...

 

But that's not really the meaning behind to original "Stays in Vegas". 

 

[thesetat]

3 hours ago, simon43 said:

Whatever is posted online, stays online!  🙂

Yeah.... you can delete and remove things. But they are never really gone. digital footprints will always remain and lead back to you. It only takes a techy to find them. Which I am sure the government and Musks employees can sort out easily enough. You can run but you can not hide haha... 

Even Thailand has the tech to find posts deleted. I recall they recently arrested some woman for sex content that she posted a few years ago and then removed. They were still able to find it and prosecute. 

[John Drake]

9 hours ago, thesetat said:

These people with visas need to know their place. They are permitted to stay in the US to study but that does not mean they are granted the same rights as an American. Even in Thailand if you spoke out at protests you will be deported with your Visa cancelled. If you break any laws your will be deported just as if you enter illegally you will be deported. Why some members here think it should be different in the US I can not comprehend as it is the same in every country. 

You are invited to retired or study and given a Visa. But you have no rights to the peoples constitutions of those countries to do and act like a citizen does. You are a guest and should act like one without involvement in politics or other controversial things that do not even apply to you because you are not a citizen. 

Get them all out I say, and good for Trump to call them out and let them know they will be deported for their actions that caused so much chaos in the schools. 

 

 

More fundamentally, they have identified themselves as terrorist sympathizers. Hamas has been designated a terrorist group since 1997. So foreigners have had 28 years to realize they cannot support terrorist causes without losing the privilege of visiting, working, or studying in the US. And there are plenty more organizations on the list that also should make for immediate cancellation of permanent residency, tourist visa, or student visa.

 https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/

[rocketboy2]

Big brave students.

Ha Ha.

Get out.

 

[Oliver Holzerfilled]

The keyboard warriors are about to get a dose of reality. 

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

 

More fundamentally, they have identified themselves as terrorist sympathizers. Hamas has been designated a terrorist group since 1997. So foreigners have had 28 years to realize they cannot support terrorist causes without losing the privilege of visiting, working, or studying in the US. And there are plenty more organizations on the list that also should make for immediate cancellation of permanent residency, tourist visa, or student visa.

 https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/

Criticizing Israeli actions is not the same as supporting hamas. I'm sure some did the latter, but mostly they did not.

[theblether]

The wayback machine captures all evidence. There's no point scrubbing, if it's online they'll find it. 

 

However, Trump is gunning for those who participated in criminal activity such as open support for Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organization. 

 

That's not a free speech issue, that's entirely a criminal matter and they should be deported. 

[Bkk Brian]

20 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Criticizing Israeli actions is not the same as supporting hamas. I'm sure some did the latter, but mostly they did not.

The apologist shows up....................how do you know most did not? Did you see them condemn Hamas? Did you see them condemn the hostage taking? I saw plenty of them doing the opposite, ripping down hostage posters, its all over the internet, one of those acts that the scum are trying to delete right now.

 

Pro-Hamas group that helped organize college protests is a 'sham charity,' Treasury says

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/-hamas-group-helped-organize-college-protests-sham-charity-treasury-sa-rcna175529

[rocketboy2]

Wish the uk had a Trump in charge.

[theblether]

14 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

The apologist shows up....................how do you know most did not? Did you see them condemn Hamas? Did you see them condemn the hostage taking? I saw plenty of them doing the opposite, ripping down hostage posters, its all over the internet, one of those acts that the scum are trying to delete right now.

 

Pro-Hamas group that helped organize college protests is a 'sham charity,' Treasury says

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/-hamas-group-helped-organize-college-protests-sham-charity-treasury-sa-rcna175529

 

The problem for StevenI and his type is that there's video footage of students saying they support Hamas. 

 

 

[theblether]

Don't be kidded, US law enforcement has thousands of hours of video footage and untold numbers of photographs of people demonstrating support for Hamas, that's before they go into their already vast online trove of gathered evidence. 

 

You'd need to be touched in the head if you didn't know that as soon as these pro-Hamas demonstrations took off that the entire US security and intelligence apparatus leapt into action to track down terrorist cells and suspects. 

 

No point deleting - they have it already. 

 

And can I add, American students will find their "free speech" rights don't extend to supporting Hamas. Congress has made it clear that supporting proscribed organizations is a criminal act. 

[stevenl]

8 minutes ago, theblether said:

 

The problem for StevenI and his type is that there's video footage of students saying they support Hamas. 

 

 

Which is what i said. What is my type?

A pity you mention me and quote someone else.

[theblether]

Just now, stevenl said:

Which is what i said.

A pity you mention me and quote someone else.

 

I was replying to that member - I mentioned you for a reason. 

 

You are deluded if you believe free speech beats criminal activity as designated by Congress. 

[proton]

From the river to the sea no more entitled brats will there be 😄

[stevenl]

1 minute ago, theblether said:

 

I was replying to that member - I mentioned you for a reason. 

 

You are deluded if you believe free speech beats criminal activity as designated by Congress. 

You are deluded if you conclude that from my post. Just as the member you quoted you distort opinions and posts 

[theblether]

1 minute ago, stevenl said:

You are deluded if you conclude that from my post. Just as the member you quoted you distort opinions and posts 

 

No distortion, you are accurately described. 

 

People like you making this out to be a free speech issue are delusional when demonstration for support for Hamas is criminal. 

 

But then you say "protesting against Israel is legal......."  not when there there are videos of you marching down the street with Hamas banners, flags, and chanting pro-Hamas slogans. 

 

 

[stevenl]

10 minutes ago, theblether said:

 

No distortion, you are accurately described. 

 

People like you making this out to be a free speech issue are delusional when demonstration for support for Hamas is criminal. 

 

But then you say "protesting against Israel is legal......."  not when there there are videos of you marching down the street with Hamas banners, flags, and chanting pro-Hamas slogans. 

 

 

Thanks for confirming you're distorting what i said.

[theblether]

2 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Thanks for confirming you're distorting what i said.

 

Laughable