In reaction to Russia’s military invasion on Ukraine, the US intends to impose penalties on Vladimir Putin and his closest circle. Representative Eric Swalwell of the United States, on the other hand, feels that more should be done.
Swalwell recommended expelling Russian students from all US schools and institutions to punish Russia even more for its conduct, according to Forbes.
“Frankly, I think closing their embassy in the United States, kicking every Russian student out of the United States, those should all be on the table,” he said.
“I’ve laid out a number of options we should consider if Putin doesn’t back off. That is just one of them,” Swalwell told Tal Kopan from the San Francisco Chronicle. “So is closing their embassy. Reducing their role at the UN in NY. Cut their visas for UN employees. The goal is to isolate Russia. Make it clear they are a pariah state.”
Swalwell stated that “current and former intelligence community members” suggested removing Russian students “as a way to increase unrest in Russia,” and that the proposal got approval in the Fox News comments section.
Many people are opposed to the notion, which is unsurprising. Critics said that pursuing innocent kids who had nothing to do with the invasion was futile and unfair.
“This is empty hawkish posturing that would punish students while doing nothing to help Ukrainians,” tweeted Matt Duss who works as a foreign policy adviser for Sen. Bernie Sanders.
The suggestion was also rejected by Kyle Kulinski, a progressive podcast presenter, who called Swalwell a bigot since “all Russians are not to blame for Putin’s imperialism.”
“Students should never be used as pawns in an international conflict, and we should know this by now,” said Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration Executive Director Miriam Feldblum in an interview.
Swalwell retweeted an amended list of recommendations to neutralize Russia shortly after the outcry, dropping his plan to remove Russian students.
