A College of Houston assistant professor says he’s making ready to return to South Korea after telling college students over the weekend he may not educate their class due to the “surprising termination of my visa.”
In a message he despatched to college students that was shared on-line, Hyeongseon Jeon stated he would educate one final class on Tuesday earlier than one other professor fills in for him for the rest of the semester. He additionally stated within the message he needed to return to Korea “instantly to resolve my immigration standing.”
Jeon declined an interview request however confirmed to Houston Public Media in a Monday electronic mail that he was consulting authorized counsel and making ready to depart for Korea.
A college spokesperson stated the college didn’t have any info to share Monday.
Final week, UH stated a “small quantity” of its worldwide college students had their visas revoked by the U.S. authorities. At the very least 115 college students and up to date graduates at schools and universities throughout Texas — together with greater than 600 worldwide college students throughout the nation — even have had their visas revoked in latest weeks.
Some college students have been focused due to their participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations in school campuses amidst the continuing struggle in Gaza. A Houston-based legal professional stated final week he had been contacted by three worldwide college students, together with one who attends UH, who had their visas revoked following an arrest.
Jeon didn’t present a motive why his visa was terminated however acknowledged in his message to college students that “many worldwide students” had been equally impacted.
“I want to ship my warmest needs to different college students who’re going through related challenges,” Jeon wrote in an electronic mail to Houston Public Media.
The U.S. Division of State didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark Monday. A division spokesperson beforehand declined to debate particular visa revocations with the Texas Newsroom, saying, “The division revokes visas each day so as to safe our borders and to maintain our neighborhood protected — and we’ll proceed to take action.”
Disclosure: Houston Public Media is licensed to the College of Houston System. The college doesn’t play a job in Houston Public Media’s editorial choices. Learn our assertion of ethics and requirements right here.
