'I will be at immediate risk of deportation'

A trans University of Sydney student seeking asylum in Australia is facing the prospect of refoulement to Malaysia for allegedly writing pro-Palestine slogans on university whiteboards.

On February 3, the University's Office of the Academic Registrar advised Luna* that she was being investigated over alleged misconduct that could result in her suspension or expulsion from the university. Luna is enrolled at the University on a Student (subclass 500) visa, making her stay in Australia reliant on her continued enrolment.

"If the Student Affairs Unit suspends my studies, I will be at immediate risk of deportation from Australia," Luna wrote in a letter to the Registrar. "Suspension will most likely lead to the cancellation of my electronic Confirmation of Enrolment and subject my student visa to cancellation by the Department of Home Affairs."

"I am a transgender woman seeking asylum in Australia due to immense violence and persecution in my home country, Malaysia," Luna wrote. "As a transgender woman, I have been denied access to gender-affirming care, including hormone replacement therapy, in Malaysia and can only access essential health care in Australia.

"This means that the threat of suspension is a direct threat of life-threatening violence and forced de-transition, removing my access to hormone replacement therapy."