Students, travellers from South-East Asia souring on the US amid immigration crackdown
'I had my heart set on Hawaii – some people call it the Disneyland for marine scientists,' he told The Straits Times.
Countries such as Australia, Britain and the US have long been popular overseas destinations for many South-East Asians. But there appears to be a growing sense of wariness among potential students and other travellers from the region about heading to the US.
Policy shifts under the Trump administration, including sharper scrutiny of international students and visa cancellations, amid an immigration crackdown have led to reassessments by would-be arrivals from South-East Asia.
For Noah, the worries have meant pivoting to local options or considering Singapore and Australia. He declined to use his real name as a precaution in the event of future travel to the US.
'I have turned my eyes closer to home. South-east Asia has incredible marine ecosystems too, and maybe this is a sign to root my work right here, where it matters most,' he said.
Others have seen their opportunities abruptly paused. A 28-year-old Malaysian participant in the US State Department's Young South-east Asian Leaders Initiative, who requested anonymity, said his five-week fellowship in the US was postponed without explanation in March.
Since January, more than 4,700 international student records have been removed from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, a database managed by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to Reuters and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
The US Embassy in Jakarta reported 8,348 Indonesian students in the US for 2023-2024, the second-highest figure from South-East Asia, after Vietnam.
But cases like that of Aditya Wahyu Harsono – a 33-year-old arrested by ICE agents at his workplace in Minnesota after his student visa was suddenly revoked – have caused ripples of concern.
The Indonesian Embassy in Washington on April 12 urged students to closely monitor their visa status and digital footprint, and to stay compliant with all US regulations. Several Indonesian students have been detained or deported recently, including one in San Francisco, and others in Atlanta and New York.
As at April 24, around 20 Indonesian students across the US have been detained by ICE, with five of them deported.
Some Indonesian students in the US say they have stopped travelling outside of the country, even for academic events, to avoid re-entry risks.
'During spring break, I noticed that people who returned to the US after internships or other activities were being questioned a lot by immigration officers, mostly friends from Arab or Palestinian backgrounds. They might be the main targets now,' Edo (not his real name), a post-graduate student in New York, told ST. He also declined to be named in case of possible repercussions.
'There's now a lot of guidance circulating. Before going through immigration, students (from overseas) are advised to delete all social media, deactivate accounts and clean up (their) photo gallery,' he said, pointing to groups like American Civil Liberties Union that are helping students avoid potential detention by ICE.
These developments come as the Trump administration is poised to use the federal purse to force top universities like Columbia and Harvard to make sweeping policy changes, or lose grants and contracts, even as international student exchange programmes including Fulbright face funding issues.
A 21-year-old Malaysian student is still mulling over an offer from a US university.
'As a brown Asian girl, I worry about my general safety and well-being if I were to reside in the US,' she said, pointing to issues such as racism and the immigration crackdown, not to mention the political leanings of Arkansas in the deep south, where the university is located. Arkansas is a red (Republican) state, whose voters helped President Donald Trump win a second term in the 2024 polls.
The president of Sunway University in Malaysia, Professor Sibrandes Poppema, has seen concerns raised by his students and their parents about the situation in the US over the last few months. He has advised them about alternative plans, such as the possibility of obtaining an American degree while completing their studies in Malaysia. The local private university offers joint programmes with Arizona State University and other universities outside Malaysia.
'Having a backup plan is always good,' he said, adding that he has received more inquiries of late about higher studies in Australia and New Zealand.
There are about 4,816 Malaysians studying in the US for the 2023-2024 academic year, according to the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, published by the US State Department.
Government-funded agency Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), which sends Malaysian students overseas, told ST that it continues to send students to the US, and has reminded them to abide by local laws. Nearly 300 Mara-sponsored students are currently in the US.
Along with students from the region, other travellers have expressed concerns about visiting the US and being refused entry or, worse, detained by the US immigration authorities for perceived infractions.
A Singaporean woman posted on TikTok on April 24 about being detained and questioned by ICE upon arrival in Los Angeles, despite having visited the US many times with no issues.
'They didn't say anything. They didn't tell me I was going to be put into a room for two hours,' she said in her post, recounting how she was not allowed to use her mobile phone or contact anyone. When contacted by ST, the woman, who wanted to be known only as Gladys, confirmed the incident but declined to comment further.
Another Singaporean, who wanted to be known only as Matthew, said he often travelled to Philadelphia for work in 2022 and had a pleasant experience then.
But the current situation is worrying, he said. 'I feel like the country has seen many changes in the past three years... Looking at the news and seeing how several minority groups or those from South-east Asia have been specific targets, it is a huge concern.'
ST spoke to seven travel agencies in Singapore, which collectively say they have not seen a difference in the level of air travel to the US, and that upcoming travel plans have not been cancelled.
CTC Travel, a Singapore travel agency, noted a steady interest in travel to the US from South-east Asia over the past few months. Its public relations head Diana Tan told ST: 'While there have been minor fluctuations due to seasonal trends and market conditions, we have not seen any significant decline in bookings. There has been no sharp decline in air ticket sales to the US since the beginning of the year.'
However, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Nigel Wong observed 'a number of cancellations and a general slowdown in bookings for travel to the US', though he did not provide any figures.
In December 2024, around 2.55 million Malaysians and 1.24 million Indonesians visited the US – compared with 1.86 million and 1.09 million, respectively, in the previous month – according to London-based global data firm CEIC.
While data from the International Air Transport Association for the month of February showed no decrease in South-east Asian arrivals in the US, this was before the spate of ICE detentions involving Indonesians in recent months.
Just three months into the year, international arrivals in the US are down sharply, driven by the President Trump's tariff moves and bold rhetoric. The US' National Travel and Tourism Office's preliminary figures indicated overseas visitor arrivals in the country fell 11.6 per cent year-on-year in March; for the first quarter of 2025, the number of visitors entering the US from overseas was 3.3 per cent lower than that of the same period a year ago.
According to travel forecasting firm Tourism Economics, the impact of a less favourable view of the US from abroad could be severe enough that international visits would not surpass pre-pandemic levels until 2029.
Put off by reports of bona fide students and tourists being detained or turned away at the border, some are choosing to stay away from the US or travel elsewhere in the meantime.
Jakarta-based business executive Adrian Suharto, 48, who travels frequently for work and holidays, said he will be avoiding the US this year.
'I saw from the news that a lot of student visa holders, permanent visa holders, are being held in US detention centres, and some are deported. It would be a high risk for us regular tourist visa holders,' he told ST. - The Straits Times/ANN
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
3 minutes ago
- The Sun
US agency investigates special counsel Jack Smith over Trump cases
WASHINGTON: The US Office of Special Counsel has launched an investigation into Jack Smith, the former special counsel who led federal criminal cases against former President Donald Trump, according to media reports. The inquiry focuses on whether Smith violated the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from political activity while on duty. Republican Senator Tom Cotton reportedly urged the agency to examine if Smith's actions were intended to influence the 2024 election. The Office of Special Counsel, which oversees federal employee conduct, has not yet commented on the matter. Smith was appointed in 2022 to oversee cases against Trump, including charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results and mishandling classified documents. Trump dismissed the charges as politically motivated, and both cases were dropped after he won the 2024 election, in line with Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. The Office of Special Counsel operates independently from Justice Department special counsels like Smith's former office. While it cannot file criminal charges, it may refer findings to the Justice Department. The Hatch Act's strictest penalty is termination, which no longer applies to Smith since he resigned. Since returning to office, Trump has taken action against perceived adversaries, revoking security clearances, targeting law firms involved in past cases against him, and cutting federal funding to universities. Last month, the FBI opened investigations into former FBI Director James Comey and ex-CIA chief John Brennan, both vocal Trump critics. Comey's daughter, a federal prosecutor handling Jeffrey Epstein's case, was also abruptly dismissed. - AFP
The Star
14 minutes ago
- The Star
From brain drain to brain gain
Zambry: Overseas experience can benefit country MALAYSIA can benefit from young talents going abroad to gain knowledge and experience – if we can get them to return and contribute to nation-building. While acknowledging that the loss of talent is a long-standing issue in the country, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir believes it can be turned into a positive. 'We can't stop people from leaving for greener pastures, (so) we have to look at it (brain drain) differently. 'We're trying to approach things from another perspective – from brain drain to brain gain. 'Meaning, let those who study abroad get experience there, and after a while, encourage them to come back,' he said, adding that one of the main reasons talent leave is the higher salaries offered abroad. Speaking at the 'In Person With Doc Zam' Q&A session at Universiti Malaya (UM) on July 17, he said every ministry must work together to address the issue. Initiatives like Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp), he added, can help bring Malaysian professionals home. Zambry also addressed the broader challenges facing graduates post-Covid-19. 'It is not just post-pandemic; it's also the era of artificial intelligence (AI) and the new digital economy. 'For example, at the World Economic Forum last January, it was predicted that while about 79 million new jobs will be created, some 40 million existing jobs will disappear,' he said. To tackle this, the ministry is focusing on preparing students for new and emerging industries through the Malaysia Education Blueprint (Higher Education) 2025–2035. 'We're prioritising science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and encouraging students to pursue science and technology. '(But) students should not be ashamed of studying fields like agriculture, because food security is a first priority for all civilisations,' he said, adding that there is a surge in interest in technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Last year, there were 140,000 enrolments in TVET; this year, the number has jumped to 200,000, he shared. Learning without walls The approach to higher education is undergoing major changes, with a focus on application-based learning and real industry experience, Zambry said. 'We're moving towards a learning model where students are not confined to the campus all the time. It could be two years on campus, and another two years in industry. 'This is a new model that is more realistic and high-impact,' he said, adding that this approach aligns with the increasingly dynamic and complex job market. Students can no longer rely solely on traditional lectures particularly with the rise of the digital economy, he said, adding that they must be bold enough to ask questions, challenge ideas, and sharpen their critical thinking skills. Citing Japan's Kosen institution system, he said it is renowned for producing engineers through a technical education approach that balances professional competence with social responsibility. 'What is the ultimate goal for humans? We work on this Earth. And who lives on this Earth? People. So, who does an engineer serve? Society. That is another dimension of an engineer,' he said. The event, which was live-streamed, saw over 3,000 foundation students from UM, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Mara in attendance. During the session, Zambry fielded questions on student involvement in education policy, freedom of expression, youth political awareness, and quotas in critical fields such as medicine. He reminded students to stay vigilant about fake information, especially false content produced by AI. 'Nowadays, AI can create images that look very real. But when you check, the person might not even exist. 'That's why we need to have a critical mind. When you see something, ask first – is this true?' he stressed. Also present were Higher Education secretary-general Datuk Dr Anesee Ibrahim, director-general Prof Datuk Dr Azlinda Azman, and UM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman.
The Star
28 minutes ago
- The Star
Editorial: Asean diplomacy delivers triumphantly
Working towards peace: Anwar with Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (left) at the ceasefire meeting. The groundwork for that had already been laid by a closed door gathering among foreign ministers last month arranged by Mohamad. — IZZUDIN ABD RAZAK/Prime Minister's Office THE ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after nearly a week of armed hostilities along their shared border, is a welcome development for a region desperate to hold onto its stability. We commend Anwar, this year's Asean Chair, for acting swiftly to bring the two sides together to reach an agreement in Putrajaya last Monday. Hundreds of thousands had fled their homes and dozens had died. That the guns have now fallen silent is no small achievement. It was, in Anwar's own words in Jakarta a day later, a 'triumph for all of Asean'. Indeed, the outcome is a reminder of what personal diplomacy can accomplish where institutional mechanisms fall short. No Asean conflict resolution frameworks were invoked; there was no shuttle diplomacy by the Asean Chair's special envoy; no invocation of the High Council under the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. Instead, it was Anwar's relationships, including longstanding ties to both Hun Sen in Cambodia and Thaksin Shinawatra's faction in Thailand, that made the difference. As Chair of Asean, it was within his prerogative to act, and act he did. We do not view this as a failure of Asean, but rather as an opportunity to reflect on the limits of our current instruments. As a community, Asean must not let its cohesion depend solely on interpersonal familiarity among elites. The next crisis may not afford us such good fortune. It is our hope that Asean leaders take stock of this episode and commit to strengthening the region's formal dispute settlement architecture; not merely to avoid conflict, but to deepen our sense of shared responsibility. Asean's credibility depends on peace among its members. When neighbours go to war, even briefly, the region's attractiveness to investors suffers, and our centrality in the Indo-Pacific order is thrown into question. Yet even as we mark this diplomatic breakthrough, the challenges ahead remain daunting. Reports emerged barely 24 hours after the ceasefire went into effect that both sides had already accused each other of fresh violations. This is, sadly, to be expected. Armies act according to their own logic. It is precisely why we should not entrust the burden of peace to soldiers alone. What we need is a lasting political commitment, supported by trusted civilian institutions, to make peace not just possible, but permanent. The fragility of the current truce speaks to a broader global trend. As one analyst noted in a recent commentary in The Diplomat, we appear to be living in an 'age of ceasefires', a time when conflicts are paused, not resolved, and diplomacy seeks to contain rather than to transform. The war in Ukraine, the unfathomable violence in Gaza, and now the clashes in our own backyard, have all fallen into this pattern. The Financial Times, writing on the neighbourly conflict, described it as a symptom of structural failure: A lack of shared norms, functional forums, and enforceable rules. Certainly, the structures are there; they are merely left unenforced. If we in Asean accept this trend as inevitable, we will only ever reach for the lowest common denominator in moments of crisis. We will settle for fragile pauses instead of forging durable peace. This would be a disservice to the generations who built Asean on the promise of mutual respect, non-violence, and shared prosperity. Let us not squander that legacy. Let us use this ceasefire, not as an endpoint, but as a chance to recommit to a regional order anchored in principles, not personalities. Only then can Asean truly claim to be a community, not just of governments, but of peoples. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
