Yale University philosophy professor Jason Stanley has announced his decision to leave the United States, citing concerns over what he perceives as authoritarian actions by the Trump administration.
According to the Daily Mail, Stanley, a frequent MSNBC commentator and expert on fascism, made the announcement during an interview with host Ana Cabrera on Monday, explaining his decision to accept a position at the University of Toronto.
The professor's departure comes in response to recent immigration enforcement actions targeting foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests. Stanley specifically pointed to the arrest of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk and the administration's broader campaign against university protesters as evidence of what he describes as far-right authoritarian ideals being implemented.
The administration has already revoked at least 300 student visas in connection with pro-Palestinian demonstrations across American universities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the administration's stance during a press conference, expressing his intention to continue identifying and removing what he termed "lunatics" who participate in such protests.
Stanley, who authored "How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them," drew parallels between current events and historical patterns of authoritarian behavior. He expressed particular concern about the targeting of non-citizens for expressing their views in student newspapers and the potential expansion of such measures to affect U.S. citizens.
The scholar highlighted recent events at Columbia University, where the interim president resigned in protest of policy changes made to satisfy Trump administration demands. The situation has intensified with Princeton facing suspension of federal grants as part of the government's initiative to combat antisemitism.
Stanley shared his perspective with Ana Cabrera, stating:
The message is that they're going to do a kind of stochastic terrorism against our country. They're going to target people one by one so that those who are in fear will shut up, essentially. Universities are filled with fear already. They're ceasing to make public statements. They're not banding together. Right now they're targeting non-citizens for, you know, writing in student newspapers. I'm sure, or I suspect, they'll start pulling people's passports, targeting U.S. citizens for various reasons, and exploiting Americans' ignorance.
In a separate interview with the Daily Nous, Stanley compared his family's current situation to their historical experience fleeing Nazi Germany. He emphasized that his grandmother's departure from Berlin with his father in 1939 makes this move feel like a continuation of family tradition rather than an escape.
The crackdown has affected multiple institutions, with several cases drawing national attention. These include the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia graduate student who has been held in a Louisiana federal detention facility for nearly three weeks despite having a green card.
Universities across the country are grappling with how to respond to the administration's actions. Some institutions have modified their policies to comply with government demands, while others face potential consequences for resistance.
Stanley's departure represents a significant move for an established American academic. As a lifelong citizen born in Syracuse, New York, his decision to relocate with his wife, Connecticut cardiologist Njeri Thande, and their children underscores the gravity of his concerns about the current political climate.
Yale professor Jason Stanley's decision to relocate to Canada stems from his assessment of the Trump administration's actions targeting university protesters and foreign students. The philosophy professor and fascism expert will join the University of Toronto, leaving behind his position at Yale due to concerns about increasing authoritarian tendencies in American governance.
As the administration continues its crackdown on campus protests and foreign students, the academic community faces growing uncertainty about the future of academic freedom and civil liberties in the United States.
