CNN
—
Trepidation and doubt are burgeoning across numerous US college campuses in anticipation of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, with certain institutions urging international students to return prematurely from winter recess due to potential reinstatements of travel restrictions akin to those that previously left students stranded overseas at the commencement of Trump’s last administration.
In a nation where over 1.1 million international students registered at US colleges and universities during the 2023-24 academic year, the former president has declared intentions for stricter immigration measures upon his return to the White House, including an extension of his previous travel restrictions targeting predominantly Muslim countries and the annulment of student visas for “radical anti-American and antisemitic foreigners.”
Generally, international students hold nonimmigrant visas that enable them to pursue studies in the US but do not offer a lawful route to remain within the country.
“It’s a frightening period for international students,” stated Pramath Pratap Misra, 23, a scholar from India who completed his political science degree at New York University this year. NYU recorded the highest number of international students in the US – exceeding 27,000 – in the past academic year.
From New York to California, students not only focused on their final exams prior to winter break, but many also prepared for possible upheavals in their lives and the risk of not being able to complete their degrees. Certain universities have encouraged students to postpone or shorten travel plans outside the US before the inauguration.
Cornell University’s Office of Global Learning advised students traveling overseas to come back prior to the start of the spring semester on January 21 or to “consult with an advisor about your travel intentions and be ready for delays.”
“A travel ban is anticipated to be enacted shortly following the inauguration,” the university cautioned students late last month. “The ban is likely to encompass nationals from the countries targeted during Trump’s first term: Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Sudan, Tanzania, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Somalia. Additional countries, especially China and India, could be included in this list.”
At the University of Southern California, which accommodated over 17,000 international students during the last academic year, staff urged foreign students in an email to be back in the US a week before Trump’s return to the White House, indicating that “one or several executive orders affecting travel … and visa processing” might be forthcoming. USC hosts the highest number of international students in California.
“While there’s no confirmation that such orders will be executed, being physically present in the U.S. before the Spring semester begins on January 13, 2025, is the safest approach to avoid any complications,” stated the USC Office of International Service, according to a report by the student-run media outlet.
Furthermore, Trump’s commitment to “mass deportations” resonates beyond vital sectors such as agriculture, tourism and hospitality, building, and healthcare: It poses potential challenges for numerous students regardless of their winter vacation travel intentions.
Simultaneously, the president-elect has vowed to “automatically” issue green cards to foreign nationals graduating from US institutions, a proposition that — if pursued by Trump and approved by Congress — could create a pathway for potentially millions of international students to achieve legal permanent residency.
Shortly after Trump made that commitment in June, however, a campaign spokesperson indicated that this group would be limited to the “most skilled graduates” and would be vetted to “exclude all communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters,America detractors and public beneficiaries.” Public beneficiaries denotes individuals who depend on or request government support. Trump has not openly addressed the initiative since June, and it remains uncertain how his forthcoming administration will tackle this matter.
A day following the presidential election last month, UCLA’s Center for Immigration Law and Policy reminded students that the university “will not disclose immigration status or related details in confidential student records … without a judicial warrant, a subpoena, a court order, or as otherwise mandated by law.”
“The University also maintains a comprehensive policy that generally forbids campus police from engaging in collaborative efforts with federal immigration enforcement or detaining individuals at the request of the federal government,” the center added.
Will there be specific arrests or widespread deportations? A senior advisor to the Trump campaign shares insights