Davey D speaks with Zahra Billoo, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), about a disturbing trend impacting international students across the U.S. In this conversation, they examine the recent cases of students—many of them from the Middle East and South Asia—who have had their visas suddenly revoked by U.S. immigration authorities. The revocations appear to be directly tied to students’ political engagement and participation in protests calling for an end to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Billoo discusses how these revocations reflect a broader crackdown on dissent, the chilling effect this has on academic freedom and free speech, and the weaponization of immigration policy to suppress solidarity movements. She also highlights CAIR’s efforts to defend students’ rights, the legal and political implications of this federal overreach, and the urgent need for academic institutions and civil liberties organizations to respond.
Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.