ADMINISTRATION. WITH THESE POLICIES THAT ARE IN PLACE HERE TODAY, THAT DREAM COULD NEVER HAPPEN AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY GRADUATE JOHANN IMPERIAL SAYS HIS SUCCESS IS A PRODUCT OF THE OPPORTUNITY HIS FAMILY FOUND IN THE U.S. MY GRANDFATHER WAS A WAS A RICE FARMER. HE STARTED A BAKERY, AND HE MADE SURE THAT ALL FIVE OF HIS SONS WENT TO COLLEGE. MY FATHER PROMISED ME, YOU’RE GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE, AND HERE I AM. HE’S ONE OF MANY STUDENTS ON THE HOMEWOOD CAMPUS. WEDNESDAY, FEELING CONCERNED AS U.S. EMBASSIES WORLDWIDE ARE INSTRUCTED TO PAUSE NEW STUDENT VISA APPOINTMENTS, STUDENTS LIKE CHEN TELL 11 NEWS THEY’RE THANKFUL TO ALREADY HAVE A VISA. I THINK IT’S A BAD NEWS. BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO NEED A VISA TO COME HERE TO STUDY, RIGHT? MORE THAN 80 COUNTRIES ARE REPRESENTED IN THE SCHOOL’S UNDERGRAD COMMUNITY, WITH 15% OF THE CLASS OF 2028 BEING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS. SENIOR ALONZO SAYS HE’S A SON OF IMMIGRANTS, SO THE TOPIC HITS CLOSE TO HOME. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS. I FEEL, OFFER A LOT OF VIEWS, DIFFERENT VIEWS, A LOT OF NEW PERSPECTIVES. MANY STUDENTS HERE SAY THEY’RE CONCERNED HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S DECISIONS MAY NEGATIVELY IMPACT HIGHER EDUCATION ACROSS THE U.S. THE TALENT IS GOING TO GO WHERE THE BEST BENEFITS ARE HELD. AND IF AMERICA DOESN’T WANT TO BE THAT PLACE, ANOTHER COUNTRY WILL. THE PAUSE COMES AS OFFICIALS WORK TO REVIEW AND EXPAND THE VETTING OF VISA APPLICANTS. THAT INCLUDES THE INSPECTION OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, SOMETHING THE STATE DEPARTMENT ALREADY DOES FOR SOME STUDENTS, THAT’S VERY INVASIVE, I THINK. I THINK ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN OPINION, OF COURSE NOT IMMUNE FROM CONSEQUENCES, BUT TO SCREEN PEOPLE AND LOOK AT THEIR THEIR POSTINGS TO SEE IF THEY HOLD ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENT IS THAT’S STRANGE AND REFLECTS THE GROWING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE FIND OURSELVES LIVING IN AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY.
Johns Hopkins students react to decision to pause visa interviews with international students
Updated: 6:18 PM EDT May 28, 2025
Recent Johns Hopkins University graduate Johann Imperial said his success is a product of the opportunity his family found in the U.S.He’s one of many students on the Homewood Campus Wednesday feeling concerned as U.S. embassies worldwide are instructed to pause new student visa appointments.”That’s terrible. I think that that’s a real shame, because we’re supposed to be the land of freedom, opportunity, equality where you can come from anywhere in the world and if you have the strength, willpower to make something of yourself,” Imperial said. “My grandfather was a rice farmer. He started a bakery, and he made sure that all five of his sons went to college. My father promised me, ‘You’re going to go to college.’ And here I am. With these policies that are in place here today, that dream could never happen.”Chuen, a Johns Hopkins student, is thankful to already have a visa.”I think it is bad news, because we have a lot of students who need a visa who come here to study,” Chuen said.| MORE: Federal judge blocks immigration authorities from revoking international students’ legal statusA spokesperson for Johns Hopkins University said the school has 7,200 international graduate students — around 31% of the total. There are 860 undergrad students, representing around 15% of the total. Of the total student population, 27% is international. Alonso, a senior, is a son of immigrants. The topic hits close to home.”International students, I feel, offer a lot of views, different views, a lot of new perspectives,” Alonso said.Many students are worried that the Trump administration’s decisions will negatively impact higher education in the U.S.”The talent is going to go where the best benefits are held. And if America doesn’t want to be that place, another country will,” Imperial said.| ALSO: JHU protesters call for protecting international students, research fundingThe pause comes as officials work to review and expand the vetting of visa applicants. That includes the inspection of social media accounts, something the state department already does for some students.”That’s very invasive, I think. I think all people should be entitled to their own opinion. Of course, not immune from consequences, but to screen people and look at their postings to see if they hold anti-American sentiment, that’s strange and reflects the growing circumstances that we find ourselves living in,” Imperial said.In a statement to 11 News about the Trump administration’s recent higher education decisions, a spokesperson for Goucher College said:”Goucher College remains fully committed to global education. We are home to students from more than 40 countries, and international students comprise 7% of our undergraduate student population. We value the perspectives our international students bring to campus and the positive impact they have on our entire community’s learning experience. “Many in the Goucher community are advocating for our international students, in addition to signing the Amicus Brief in AAUP v. Rubio challenging visa revocations and detentions. We continue to monitor this issue and how it will impact our current students, incoming students, and exchange student populations.”
Recent Johns Hopkins University graduate Johann Imperial said his success is a product of the opportunity his family found in the U.S.
He’s one of many students on the Homewood Campus Wednesday feeling concerned as U.S. embassies worldwide are instructed to pause new student visa appointments.
“That’s terrible. I think that that’s a real shame, because we’re supposed to be the land of freedom, opportunity, equality where you can come from anywhere in the world and if you have the strength, willpower to make something of yourself,” Imperial said. “My grandfather was a rice farmer. He started a bakery, and he made sure that all five of his sons went to college. My father promised me, ‘You’re going to go to college.’ And here I am. With these policies that are in place here today, that dream could never happen.”
Chuen, a Johns Hopkins student, is thankful to already have a visa.
“I think it is bad news, because we have a lot of students who need a visa who come here to study,” Chuen said.
| MORE: Federal judge blocks immigration authorities from revoking international students’ legal status
A spokesperson for Johns Hopkins University said the school has 7,200 international graduate students — around 31% of the total. There are 860 undergrad students, representing around 15% of the total. Of the total student population, 27% is international.
Alonso, a senior, is a son of immigrants. The topic hits close to home.
“International students, I feel, offer a lot of views, different views, a lot of new perspectives,” Alonso said.
Many students are worried that the Trump administration’s decisions will negatively impact higher education in the U.S.
“The talent is going to go where the best benefits are held. And if America doesn’t want to be that place, another country will,” Imperial said.
| ALSO: JHU protesters call for protecting international students, research funding
The pause comes as officials work to review and expand the vetting of visa applicants. That includes the inspection of social media accounts, something the state department already does for some students.
“That’s very invasive, I think. I think all people should be entitled to their own opinion. Of course, not immune from consequences, but to screen people and look at their postings to see if they hold anti-American sentiment, that’s strange and reflects the growing circumstances that we find ourselves living in,” Imperial said.
In a statement to 11 News about the Trump administration’s recent higher education decisions, a spokesperson for Goucher College said:
“Goucher College remains fully committed to global education. We are home to students from more than 40 countries, and international students comprise 7% of our undergraduate student population. We value the perspectives our international students bring to campus and the positive impact they have on our entire community’s learning experience.
“Many in the Goucher community are advocating for our international students, in addition to signing the Amicus Brief in AAUP v. Rubio challenging visa revocations and detentions. We continue to monitor this issue and how it will impact our current students, incoming students, and exchange student populations.”
