J-1 students have been warned not to attend any protests about the conflict in Gaza while in the United States.
The Union of Students in Ireland has students heading Stateside should display “caution” with regards to activism.
Since Donald Trump’s return to office, a number of migrants have been deported following their participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Larry Donnelly, a law lecturer in Galway, described the advice as “on the money”.
“I think that caution is probably the right word,” he said.
“It gives me no pleasure to say that as, like generations of Irish students before them, they go off to what we always regard as the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
“We see across the United States a crackdown on, in particular, college and university campuses and on what we would commonly regard as free speech.”
“If people just behave and do the normal things, then they’ll be ok”
Taoiseach speaking on Saturday about concerns for J1 students heading to the US this summer.
(If any of the J1 students were lucky to get a job that is, if ykyk)@NewstalkFM pic.twitter.com/ijGYOPHIPE
— Alex Rowley (@AlexRowley04) April 15, 2025
Mr Donnelly said the First Amendment of the US constitution grants Americans a right to free speech; however, he added there are “certain limitations” when it comes to US national security.
“I would advise caution when it comes to getting involved in any sort of protests - particularly those linked around college campuses,” he said.
“And particularly those having to do with Palestine, Gaza and Israel.”
Main image: US President Donald Trump shaking hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Picture by: Alamy.com
