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Thread on this imp op-ed by the president of @Columbia saying he won't monitor foreign students for the FBI. washingtonpost.com/opinions/no-i-…
Turns out FBI agents visiting universities asking them to keep tabs on students, especially from China, as reported by @NPR npr.org/2019/06/28/728…. But that is not all the administration is doing to keep tabs on what students are studying.
As we pointed out in a recent @BrennanCenter report, ICE is already monitoring students via social media.
Its student visitor system (SEVIS) keeps track of students who change their field of study from nonsensitive to sensitive (e.g., robotics). It sends leads over to something called Domestic Mantis which uses social media and other sources of info to keep tab on them.
Even if ICE doesn't find anything suspicious, any info collected goes into DHS databases, where it is kept for years. Not super clear how its used, but def for risk assessments of travelers and if the students ever apply for adjustment of status e.g., for work visa or green card.
I think its kinda interesting that DHS gets away with monitoring people with no suspicion of criminal activity and no real standards while they are inside the United States.
You can read more here: brennancenter.org/publication/so…
