Trump journey bans, restrictions alarm collegiate athletes at ASU

PHOENIX – Arizona State is a haven for athletes from everywhere in the world. They signify six continents and compete throughout quite a lot of sports activities.

The current announcement by President Donald Trump that residents of 12 international locations can be banned from visiting the United States and people from seven others would face restrictions has left many ASU athletes feeling unsettled.

“It’s hard because my country is rumored to be added to the travel ban list,” mentioned ASU cross nation runner Taiwo Mary Kuduro, who’s from Nigeria. “It’s pretty worrisome that my visa status may be in question because I come from an African country.”

Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen are on the journey ban listing. Visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela will face restrictions.

The administration additionally mentioned that 36 extra international locations – a lot of them in Africa, together with Nigera – might be added to the listing except they deal with quite a lot of safety points.

ASU athletic director Graham Rossini supplied a voice of help for the athletes.

“We currently do not have any issues with keeping our international athletes here,” Rossini mentioned. “They are Sun Devils just like the American-born athletes, and they will participate during the 2025–2026 season.”

Although a lot of ASU’s overseas athletes come from Europe, Canada and Australia, a lot of these from Africa and Asia worry their nation might be subsequent.

“I came here to golf and get an education,” mentioned Fifa Laopakdee, a Thai athlete on the boys’s golf group. “That’s what I want to do, and I don’t want to have to potentially worry about my status.”

Although Thailand just isn’t on the restricted journey listing, concern is prevalent amongst athletes from many international locations throughout a interval of immigration unrest and visa revocations.

Some athletes say their concern is heightened as they watch ICE raids and sweeping deportations have an effect on the Phoenix space.

Additionally, in January, a conservative ASU pupil group referred to as College Republicans United referred to as for college kids to report their friends to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an occasion that additionally attracted a whole lot of protesters on ASU’s Tempe campus.

It could be tough to look at.

“Due to it being an extremely poor look not only for the administration but for the university as well, these students shouldn’t fear their visas being revoked,” Phoenix immigration legal professional Cody Hall mentioned. “Unfortunately, many others with similar status do not have that luxury and are subjected to deportations and visa revocations.”

In June, Emerson Colindres, a 19-year-old membership soccer standout with desires of taking part in collegiately, was detained by ICE after which deported to Honduras, which his household left greater than a decade in the past to flee violence. He had no legal document.

LeMerian Lemashon, considered one of three ASU distance runners from Kenya, is attempting his greatest to keep away from the surface noise.

“Right now, I’m focused on running,” he mentioned. “I cannot control what is going on politically. I am here to do my job.”

Many of ASU’s overseas athletes share the identical mindset: School and competitors come first. Legal standing comes second.

“We can’t do anything about it,” Kuduro mentioned. “Yes, we are worried about the possibilities, but we have to focus on competing, which is why we are here.”

Hall understands the priority.

“Obviously, the main focus is Latin-American countries for restrictions,” he mentioned. “However, the point is, if you are on a visa in general, you may be subjected to status changes.”

Concerns prolong past ASU.

“We certainly have thought about it,” Grand Canyon University athletic director Jamie Boggs mentioned. “It will be more of an issue if it gains traction, but since we aren’t as large as other DI schools, it could really impact our athletic composition.”

Studying and competing overseas is already a problem for worldwide athletes.

“From experience, there is already an extensive process in place to obtain a visa,” mentioned Mathis Bondasz, a French tennis participant for ASU. “I can’t see how it could be restricted more than it already is. I don’t think that is possible.”

Bondasz is among the many 80% of worldwide athletes that make up ASU’s tennis groups.

“Due to what is going on, it’s hard to focus solely on tennis,” Bondasz mentioned. “You are only in control of what you came here to do, and for me, that is to play tennis. But I do worry for my teammates.”

Practices for the 2025 fall season are underway for 5 sports activities: soccer, volleyball, cross nation, soccer and golf.

“There’s no point in sitting here and feeling sorry for ourselves,” Lemashon mentioned. “We have a whole new season starting and a lot to look forward to. Always have to look at the positives.”

With Phoenix lower than 200 miles from Mexico’s border, U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement raids are ceaselessly within the information. Arizona ranked fifth in ICE arrests throughout a five-month stretch in 2025, in keeping with information compiled by the Deportation Data Project.

The visibility could be jarring.

“It affects me and some of my teammates. That goes without saying,” Laopakdee mentioned. “They’re my brothers. I cannot compete without them, but we know it’s out of our control, and we must focus on golf.”

Approximately 14% of ASU athletes are worldwide college students. Nationally, it’s significantly prevalent in tennis. International college students signify 63 % of NCAA males’s tennis gamers and 62 % of girls’s tennis gamers.

“We are proud of our student body on and off the field here in Tempe,” Rossini mentioned. “That will not change regardless of the legislation that comes from Washington.”

ASU is ceaselessly ranked among the many high universities for enrollment and attracts many athletes from different international locations.

“It definitely is in the back of your mind, whether you want it there or not,” distance runner Chepkoech mentioned. “There are definitely Arizonans who are subjected to worse than we are, so we have to be grateful that we have a support system in place.”

Immigration legal professionals throughout Arizona are watching intently.

“We are prepared to defend athletes if it gets to that point,” Hall mentioned. “Obviously, we would have to work things out with the university, but if called upon, we will be there no matter what.”

Coaches are paying consideration, too.

“Seven of our eight players are foreign-born,” ASU males’s tennis coach Matt Hill mentioned. “I definitely account for that. This is an issue that goes beyond our team, but I am with my players through thick and thin. That is my job.”

ASU has not reported any ICE raids on campus.

“We work to build and maintain a respectful, principled academic environment,” an ASU spokesman mentioned in an announcement.

“We are here to teach and learn – not to engage in self-aggrandizing conduct in order to generate as much media attention and controversy as possible.”