Title: U.S. Campuses Urge International Students to Return Before Trump‘s Inauguration
In a move influenced by growing uncertainty and fear, several American universities are encouraging international students to return to the U.S. prior to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. With over 1.1 million international students studying across various U.S. colleges and universities during the 2023-2024 academic year, Trump’s promised stringent immigration policies have sparked concern.
Universities fear potential travel bans targeting individuals from certain predominantly Muslim countries, as well as visa revocations for ‘foreign individuals who are anti-American and anti-Semitic.’ International students typically hold non-immigrant visas that permit study in the U.S., but do not provide a path to residency.
"These are frightening times for international students," said Pramath Pratap Misra, a 23-year-old Indian student who graduated from New York University this year with a bachelor’s degree in political science. NYU is home to the highest number of international students in the U.S., with over 27,000 enrolled during the previous academic year.
Students from New York to California are not only focusing on their final exams before the winter break but are also preparing for potential disruptions to their lives and the risk of being unable to complete their studies. Some universities have advised students to delay or shorten their travel plans outside the U.S. before Trump’s inauguration.
Trump’s campaign promises of mass deportations echo ominously in industries heavily reliant on foreign workers, such as agriculture, hospitality, and healthcare, potentially complicating matters for some international students regardless of their winter break plans.
Trump initially promised to automatically grant green cards to foreign students graduating from U.S. universities, a move that – if pursued and enacted by Congress – could open avenues for millions of international students to become permanent residents. However, a campaign spokesperson later qualified this offer, stating that the program would be limited to ‘highly skilled’ graduates and exclude ‘all communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, America-haters, and public mestreants.’
One day after last month’s presidential election, the UCLA School of Law’s Immigrant Rights Defense and Education Center reminded students that universities ‘will not release immigration status or related information from student records without a court order, subpoena, judicial warrant, or as required by law.’ Universities also maintain strict policies against collaborating with federal immigration enforcement, the center added.
Cornell University’s Global Cornell Office encouraged international students traveling abroad to return to the U.S. before the spring semester begins on January 21. The university also advised students to communicate their travel plans with international student advisors and prepare for possible delays.
The University of Southern California, which hosts over 17,000 international students, sent an email urging students to return to the U.S. at least a week prior to Trump’s inauguration. USC cited the possibility of one or more executive orders affecting travel and visa processing.
As the Trump administration approaches, international students face an uncertain future. While universities offer guidance and support, the ultimate challenge lies in navigating the complex landscape of immigration policy that lies ahead.
(fas/lir)
