Irish students warned against 'activism' in the US

Irish students have been warned to be cautious about "activism" while on a popular work and travel visit to the United States this summer.

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has issued the advice following concerns about heightened activity by US immigration officials after President Donald Trump's promise to combat antisemitism in an executive order in January.

In a statement, the Irish students representative body said it "strongly condemns any attempt to restrict the rights of Irish students on J1 visas to engage in activism, including support for the Middle East".

Thousands of Irish students take part in the annual J1 visa programme.

The J1 Student Work and Travel Programme is a reciprocal cultural exchange arrangement between the US and Irish Governments, allowing American and Irish students to work and travel in each other's countries.

The USI urged students to be cautious and informed during their exchange.

It said any restriction that threatened students' ability to freely express their views were "deeply concerning and undermine the principles of free speech and democratic engagement".

The USI added that activism was a vital part of student life but students should understand possible consequences.

In a statement, the USI said: "We call on both the US and Irish authorities to provide clarity on these issues, ensuring that students are fully aware of their rights and responsibilities while participating in the J1 programme.

The organisation said it was "committed to supporting students in navigating these challenges, and we will continue to advocate for their safety, rights, and freedom of expression".

Speaking to BBC News NI, the President of the Union of Students in Ireland, Chris Clifford, said the union had seen many arrests in the US in recent months "around students being activists in what they believe in on their campuses and college and just in general".

He said the union was "very concerned" about this and wants to ensure the safety of all Irish students who are planning to travel to the US this summer.

He added that the union has advised students to take measures to ensure their safety and "if that means deleting their social media if they have to do that".

Mr Clifford also said some Irish students have already decided against going to the US this summer.

"We have seen students who were considering going for a J1 but now they are opting out and they are deciding to boycott and go to alternative areas in Europe such as Greece and Spain. We are seeing students who are considering that option as well".

He has also urged the Irish Government to "speak up" to ensure that Irish students who are travelling abroad "have a voice" and retain the right to freedom of speech.

Responding to the USI statement, Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris emphasised that the government travel advice for Irish people going to the US had not changed.

However, he said, the government will always "keep all of these things under constant review".

Harris said he understood why people were asking questions about the issue following "scenes from across America in terms of protest", particularly in relation to Palestine

The Irish government's general advice to students travelling to the US on J1 visas points out that, as Irish citizens in the United States, they are bound by US law.

The government's advice also states that if any visiting students should be arrested for any reason while in the US, they will have to go through the local justice system and that could mean "fines, jail and likely deportation and exclusion, and crucially could adversely affect your chances of getting back to the US down the line".

The general advice also tells Irish students: "It is really important for you to familiarise yourself with the laws that will directly affect you during your stay in the US."

The J1 US visa programme has been regarded as a rite of passage for thousands of students from both sides of the Irish border for many years.