Roommate of NC State student with revoked visa warns of ‘chilling effect'
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Two North Carolina State University students are back in Saudi Arabia after their visas were revoked by the U.S. government.
One of the students, Saleh Al Gurad, received the life-changing news a week ago, according to his roommate, Philip Vasto.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 NC State students leave US after visas terminated, officials say
'We didn't know what to make of it, we thought it was a mistake,' Vasto said. 'He had just the most grave expression on his face, wide-eyed.'
Vasto said there was no explanation or reason given for why Al Gurad's visa was revoked.
'I could tell he had felt betrayed,' Vasto said. 'It was a feeling of abandonment.'
Vasto met Al Gurad in December when the two started rooming together. He said they bonded over their love of different cuisines and professional sports, describing Al Gurad as someone who kept to himself.
'He was just a hard worker, very diligent,' Vasto said. 'He actually took a job here on campus and he was just really knee deep in his studies.
According to Vasto, Al Gurad was working on a master's in engineering management.
Students at other American universities who have voiced support for Palestinians have also had their visas revoked by the U.S. government, but Vasto said that is not the case for his roommate.
'He's an apolitical person, so he minded his business,' Vasto said.
Vasto believes Al Gurad was singled out because of his ethnicity.
'That sends a very chilling message to international students all across America,' he said.
Other students echoed that sentiment.
'It's a scary time right now for everyone,' said Satha Boaj, a student government senator at NC State.
Boaj is not an international student, but is originally from Jordan and said the situation has been a shock for her.
'I think there's a lot of fear right now, not because of losing rights, but being deported, getting kicked out, losing their families, losing their progress in their education, in their jobs,' she said.
In her role in student government, Boaj recently helped pass a bill making an international affairs department permanent to help international students navigate college, including immigration issues.
'One of the things we really wanted to focus on with this department is working with the Office of Global Engagement and the immigrant attorney we have at NC State, putting them together, and helping [students] with any legal issues that they run into regarding their visas, green cards, things like that,' she said.
NC State enrolls nearly 5,000 international students, the most in the University of North Carolina system.
'They're contributing so much to the student body,' Vasto said. 'And it would be an absolute shame if the Wolfpack abandons these students.'
In a statement Wednesday, the university said in part, 'NC State did not initiate these terminations and was not directly notified of these changes.
'We are deeply concerned about the lack of communication from federal agencies and the impact of these actions on our international students.'
The university explained both students decided to return to their home country and said they will be able to finish their semester while there. Vasto wants to see more action.
'I would think that it would send a message if the university said they would not comply with ICE and would allow this university to become a sanctuary campus,' he said.
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