“It is not my fault”: Exploring experiences and perceptions of racism among international students of color during COVID-19.

Using neoracism (Lee & Rice, 2007) as a theoretical framework, this study explored international students’ experiences, challenges, and perceptions of racism and racial discrimination during COVID-19 in the U.S. By conducting three virtual focus group interviews with 18 international students in total, we identified three key themes that encapsulated participants’ challenges and experiences of perceived racism: perceptions of racism—explicit discrimination and fear of threats, feelings of being unwelcome and unsafe, and two faces of quarantine—navigating tensions of relief and isolation. Implications for research and practice to support international students are discussed.