Dr. Akhtar Hussain Sandhu
The US history is replete with examples of welcoming trends, absorbing divergent mindsets exhibiting capaciousness, and tolerating dissidents because a variety of nations migrating from their homelands opted for the US, declaring it their motherland. They found it to be a peaceful country and a land of opportunities wherein they could survive honorably without any suppression. But the Trump administration reversed many migration and visa policies under the justification of economic duress for the US citizens, illegal presence of the non-US people, problem of law and order situation and ‘anti-US’ activities of the immigrants having Green Cards, work permits and other status of visa.
The US President elected by the majority of the American people with some expectations highlighted during the electioneering campaign and even the measures taken during his previous Presidential era is issuing orders to implement his manifestation that is the most crucial part of the democratic norms. Promised during the election campaign and implemented the same after clinching the highest office of White House is the core value of the democratic system.
If not followed, the democratic system will collapse, having no value in the eyes of the voters as the Pakistani ones witness this dichotomy and resultantly no one believes in that democracy exists here in a true sense. Therefore, what Donald Trump is doing has full democratic support behind his back. But the alarming aspect of Donald Trump’s action against the scholars, intellectuals and highly esteemed professionals merely on their suspected position is a talk of the town nowadays. The American libraries are filled with the literature representing dissidents’ views. Difference of opinion is prudently perceived as a blessing of God because research is based on challenging the existing opinion that comes up with synthesized results.
Challenging the existing intellectual stance is a beauty of human intellect that moved humans to leave the caves and build new settlements with a more civilized style of living. Suspicion is merely a suspicion; therefore, currently the highly qualified professionals should not be targeted without solid evidence in the States. What Edward Said opined under cultural affiliation and attachment with the motherland does not mean the hatred towards the others. One US President supported Ukraine in the recent war does not mean his sincerity with the US is doubtful. What the Federalist Papers and the debate on the First Amendment tell us is the divergent opinions on one question and the contradictory stance cannot be declared as suspicious positions of patriotism of the Founding Fathers. C. John Calhoun gives concept of ‘Concurrent Presidency’ does not mean a rebellion against the US Constitution and the political system. The contradictory political stance and opinion on the policies of the Hamiltonian and Jeffersonian factions cannot be deemed as an anti-American attitude. If someone likes an action on social media it should be perceived as an individual like or dislike. Nations cannot be assessed based on a limited scope of surveys and propaganda on social media. But yes, the policymakers can hunt out the persons involved in the anti-state activities with solid evidence, and they should be dealt with within the true spirit of the law of the land. The US Immigration authorities arrested an Indian Muslim, Badar Khan Suri, in Virginia, suspecting him of his marriage to a Palestinian woman.
The senior fellow at Georgetown University was arrested and detained in the Louisiana detention center, from where he will be deported to India. The Secretary of State has revoked his J-1 visa on the grounds of violation of the US laws but the court of Virginia has ordered not to deport him until the final court decision. The allegations of supporting Hamas and propaganda against the US were leveled against Mr. Suri. The defense has contended that Suri is an established scholar and researcher having expertise on the Middle East, so having some findings on different issues should not be penalized.
There is no solid evidence of his link with any terrorist organization as media reports. Muhammad Khalil’s visa has been revoked for leading anti-Israel protests in American universities, but leaving the question unaddressed, ‘will such strict action be taken against the participants of the rallies?’ A medical doctor, Alvi, from Lebanon, was deported on the reason that her mobile phone contained pictures of Iranian leaders. The expulsion of five Venezuelan citizens were expelled despite the Washington court orders on the charges that they were a part of the criminal gang in Venezuela. The US administration is entirely authorized to take stern action against the illegal immigrants and the persons involved in the anti-state activities, but I fear that such furious treatment may debar the intellectuality and curb the dissidence. Many opine that compatibility of opinion is the main issue required by the current US administration, and persons uttering contradictory intellectual stance to that of the current US administration will not be tolerated even having legal documentation to live in the States. In case of a different opinion, the Green Card and work permit can be cancelled and kicked out of the States. Freedom of expression, per the law of the land, ought to be ensured in the United States because the diaspora has contributed a lot to the initiation and elevation of Americanism. Intellectuality be honored in the New Land and the dissidents persecuted in their own countries seek refuge in the US should be acknowledged and facilitated to live an honorable life.
Note: Prof Dr. Akhtar Hussain Sandhu, Ph.D.Postdoctoral Fellow at Royal Holloway, University of London, is an academician, educationist, author of several books, and Principal of Islamia College Civil Lines Lahore.
