international students Archives - Focal Point: Lives In The Balance

Gainesville High School students cross SW 13th St. after school let out in Gainesville, Florida.

“We couldn’t take it anymore”

June 5, 2026

Fear of immigration arrests near schools in Florida are reducing enrollment.

Samuel Santiago, who came from Venezuela as a political refugee, earned an associate degree from Valencia College at 18 before studying politics at Princeton University. Santiago, now 29, said the proposed Florida Department of Education rule barring immigrant students from state colleges is shameful.

Students shut out

June 2, 2026

A new proposal would block immigrants unlawfully in the U.S. from attending Florida colleges.

At the Eid service, patrons gather around a table filled with pastries.

Making time for traditions

May 27, 2026

Some U.S. immigrants and international students follow two different calendars and work harder to maintain their traditions from home.

Arpan Banerjee, a third-year Ph.D. candidate studying ophthalmology and visual sciences at Upstate Medical University,

International students come to US to chase their dreams

May 27, 2026

International students come to the United States in search of opportunity, but the journey requires them to navigate unfamiliar environments and redefine what home and belonging mean.

In this photo Jhonny Zamor stands in a blue zip up on an indoor soccer field with his right footing resting on a soccer ball.

How international students navigate collegiate soccer

May 27, 2026

International soccer players at Bryant & Stratton College take the field knowing the stakes.