Apr. 14, 2025 8p; Updated at 10p with graduation details
(WGTD)---A senior at Carthage College was one of several dozen international college students in the state who recently lost their student visas.
The disclosure came at a listening session held Monday in Kenosha by several Democratic legislators, including State Representative Ben DeSmidt, a retired Carthage professor. "She was warned by the Spanish embassy--her home country--that she should get on a plane as soon as possible and get back to her home country so she's not deported to that prison in El Salvador," he said.
Before she left, some Carthage faculty scrambled to stage a hastily-arranged graduation ceremony that included a number of faculty members in full regalia and Carthage President John Swallow. "She was allowed to leave with some dignity," said DeSmidt. "It's just shameful."
According to a faculty member who was present but wished to remain anonymous, the three chairs of the major departments in which the student studied spoke, as did Swallow.
A small delegation from the Carthage Choir was present and sang "The Blessing of Aaron," which is customary at all Carthage graduations.
"Many students were in attendance," said the faculty member. "There were many tears."
Jason Sager, an immigration attorney in Milwaukee, told WTMJ TV that the revocation of a student visa does not necessarily affect a student’s legal status. Some students obviously aren’t waiting around to find out if the other shoe will drop. The schools aren’t being given reasons for the visa revocations, Sager said.
DeSmidt speculated that the students may have posted something on social media that the Trump administration didn't like.
There’s been no comment on the matter from Carthage administration.
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