by Tessa Barber and Cassie Urbenz,Graduate Assistants United
This statement [about pulling the plug on H1-B visas] is just another inflammatory, racist positioning designed to distract from the fact that those in Tallahassee refuse to address any real issues facing the working people in our state, while working tirelessly to hurt unions and international residents who are only here to get an education and give back.
– Austin Britton, UF-GAU Co-President
Governor Ron DeSantis stood on the University of South Florida campus on Wednesday, Oct. 22, behind a banner of “reclaiming higher education,” to order Florida’s colleges and universities to “pull the plug” on H1-B visas.
To see such a blatant display of prejudice and xenophobic desperation from a government official on their own campus, without any notification from University administration that this press conference would be happening, was patently horrifying.
They (GAU chapters) immediately received messages from international graduate assistants asking what this meant, and what it would mean for their future. Not only are international employees currently experiencing high levels of fear and uncertainty due to mixed messages surrounding immigration enforcement action around the state, but now the Florida Governor is standing on their doorstep unannounced launching a targeted campaign against them.
Not only is it not feasible to send mass amounts of educators and support professionals out of our country, but it would be detrimental to the integrity of our state colleges and universities.
Leadership at the GAU chapter at USF immediately reached out to the other graduate assistant labor unions in the state to express concern about this statement, see what they thought, and ask what we can do next.
It’s more important now than ever to stick together and support these essential members of our communities. International employees are real people who are integral members of our university and regional communities, and should not be labelled and forcibly ripped from these communities based on their immigration status.
Our solidarity is our strength, as exemplified by our strong network of unionized academic workers remaining vigilant on this issue.
These attacks are being shown to be on track with trends in the past, where we are seeing the federal government start with ICE raids on undocumented community members here and are now seeing Florida setting their sights on legal H1-B holders.
GAU chapters aren’t worried about DeSantis’ announcement. Equipped with legal protection and in constant communication with our members, we’re prepared to fight back.
Let’s wait until we hear updates regarding actual policy, not just Ron DeSantis getting on his high horse in a press conference.
As for now—you can’t expel someone who’s legally here, and this is more of a very serious call to action to prepare to wrap our arms around our neighbors in case of escalation than something to be afraid of.