The Union of Students in Ireland is urging students to be "cautious" about the potential risks involved in "activism" while on a J1 visa in the United States this summer.
"While activism is a vital part of student life and a right that should be protected, it is important that students fully understand the possible consequences for their visa status, including the risk of deportation, and take steps to safeguard their participation in such activities," said the body, which represents over 350,000 students in over 30 colleges across Ireland.
Thousands of Irish students avail of the J1 visa programme every year.
It allows full-time third level students to work and travel in the US for up to four months during the summer.
Since taking office, US President Donald Trump has announced a number of immigration-related executive orders that focus on stricter border policy, tighter visa vetting procedures and a crackdown on undocumented migrants in the US.
One Irish immigration lawyer in Chicago said she is inundated with calls from parents over concerns about the J1 visa programme.
"People's mothers are calling asking whether their daughters should come to the US on a summer J1," said Fiona McEntee founder of McEntee Law Group.
While US border officials have always had the authority to look through people’s phones and computers, Ms McEntee said it appears that there is a "dialling-up" on the use of that authority.
"This is a hard thing for me to say because part of the US constitution guarantees the right to free speech to everyone in the US despite your citizen status, and given what we're seeing I would be extremely reluctant to be participants in some demonstrations" she said.
She said officials could search for comments and activity considered to be anti-Semitic, anti-American or anti-Trump.
"Speaking out for the Palestinian people… Is that considered anti-Semitism? I mean there has been some pretty high-profile cases here of people who apparently have been participating in peaceful protests and different activities that have experienced significant enforcement activity including deportation proceedings," she added.
US border officials are using additional measures, which the administration calls "enhanced vetting," at ports of entry to the country.
US immigration authorities also said they will look at social media accounts and deny visas or residence permits to people who post content considered anti-Semitic by Mr Trump's administration.
The move comes after the Trump administration has controversially cancelled visas for students inside the US.
"Absolutely everyone is entitled to their opinion, but we don't want our students put into a situation of difficulty"
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said late last month that he has stripped visas for some 300 people and was doing so on a daily basis.
The USI said any actions that threaten students’ ability "to freely express their views are deeply concerning and undermine the principles of free speech and democratic engagement".
USI President Chris Clifford said that he would not have to give this advice last year.
"We are absolutely pro-free speech. Absolutely everyone is entitled to their opinion, but we don’t want our students put into a situation of difficulty," he said.
Jenny Maguire from Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union said that as a result of the stricter rules, some students are hesitant to go to the US this year.
"A lot of students are going to Greece. A lot of students are going to other areas across Europe instead because it’s just not worth the hassle," the TCDSU president said.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
The USI said it is calling on Irish authorities to provide clarity on these issues, ensuring that students are fully aware of their rights and responsibilities while participating in the J1 programme.
Last month, the German foreign ministry updated its travel advice for Germans travelling to the US after three German nationals were denied entry and detained as they tried to enter.
Advice for travellers now also warns that possessing an electronic system for travel authorisation (ESTA) document does not automatically guarantee entry into the US.
No change to travel advice for Irish citizens - Harris
Meanwhile, the Tánaiste has said travel advice for Irish people heading to the United States has not changed.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Cabinet, Simon Harris said "my Department has not changed its travel advice to the United States, though of course we keep all of these things under constant review".
He said people have seen "scenes from across America in terms of protest", particularly relating to Palestine, and it does cause people to ask questions.
Mr Harris said "its important when you go to any jurisdiction to consider the local situation, the local laws, to consider if what is acceptable in Ireland is acceptable in the country that you are visiting and to also know, specifically in relation to the United States, that Ireland has a very large diplomatic presence there."
When asked what advice is there for this year's J1 students travelling to the US due to Mr Trump's "enhanced vetting", the Department of Foreign Affairs directed RTÉ News to its current tailored travel advice for J1 students.
It said all the travel advice is based on consultation with embassies and consulates on the ground.
There is no reference to changes in the immigration system in the travel advice, but it warns about adhering to visa requirements and that as an Irish citizen in the United States is bound by US law.
"If you are arrested, you will have to go through the local justice system, which could mean fines, jail and likely deportation and exclusion, and crucially could adversely affect your chances of getting back to the US down the line," it said.
