This article was originally published on Word In Black.
Overview:
Triggered by shared understandings of oppression, the alliance between Black American students and students from abroad cuts across nationalities, but is particularly strong with students from the African diaspora.
Originally from England, Azeez Adedeji, a senior studying business administration and sports management, was drawn to Northern Illinois University by the diversity of the student body on the Dekalb, Illinois campus. Now a senior, he says the affordable tuition also didn’t hurt.
But Adedeji’s sense of comfort at NIU was disrupted in March, when the federal government deported two classmates and fellow international students — one from Kenya, the other from Ethiopia.
“One [student] was researching clean water solutions for rural communities. The other studied AI ethics,” Adedeji says. “Their work mattered, but suddenly they were gone.”
“Suspicion Follows You Everywhere”
The incident, and others like them around the country, brought new urgency, and a different perspective, to the racial healing discussions happening on NIU’s campus. Along with examining the racial divide, Black students are forging solidarity with students who come from abroad — particularly those who are part of the global African diaspora.
That connection was underscored last month at an anti-deportation protest organized by two educators’ unions on campus: the Instructors’ Chapter of UPI 4100 and the NIU-United Faculty Alliance. The protest, part of a national Day of Action, highlighted a national wave of visa revocations affecting more than 1,000 international students in recent months — including at least five at NIU.
“When you’re Black and international, suspicion follows you everywhere,” says Adanna Chidubem, an NIU graduate student from Nigeria. Chidubem, who studies healthcare disparities, says her research visa was delayed for months last year without explanation.
For Black American students, the issue is complex and layered, and their issues intersect with those of international students. As people of color on predominantly-white campuses, both groups have faced biases and racial disparities, migration histories, and a fight for belonging in institutions that historically have excluded them.
International Enrollment Drops
Universities nationwide have reported a decline in international enrollment since 2020, with advocacy groups linking the trend to heightened visa scrutiny and fears of detention or deportation. NIU’s international student population has dropped 12% since 2020, according to university data.
Campus cultural clubs, such as the African Student Association and the Black International Caucus, say the decline erodes community support.
“We used to host packed events,” says Omoloa Chidubem, who leads a mentorship program for incoming Black international students. “Now, newcomers ask if it’s safe to speak up. That’s the opposite of healing.”
“Healing starts when institutions defend us openly, not just in emails,” she added. “We need them to say our names in rooms where decisions are made.”
“Allies chanting for us matters,” Chidubem says. “But dignity means more than visas. It’s being seen as people, not risks.”
Everyone Benefits
John Miller, president of the University Professionals of Illinois, warned that deterring international scholars weakens academia. Over 25% of STEM graduate students in the U.S. are from overseas, according to the National Science Foundation, and advocates say they help drive scientific discovery that benefits everyone.
“They’re not just diversity statistics — they’re innovators,” Miller says. “When we push them away, we lose talent that fuels American research.”
“Transparency isn’t just policy — it’s accountability,” Adedeji says.
“Protecting students means funding their defense,” says protest attendee Silas Gallagher, a second-year sociology graduate student.
As the crowd dispersed, the three students lingered near the library in quiet solidarity. For them, racial healing hinges on more than policy shifts — it’s about rewriting narratives.
“This isn’t just our fight,” Chidubem says. “It’s for the next student who shouldn’t have to hide.”
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