Students Anxiously Anticipate Fallout from Possible Trump Travel Restrictions

Upon returning to Northwestern after her visit home to Iran during the winter break, Weinberg freshman Rosha Sodeifi expressed her enthusiasm to be back on campus. However, she was unprepared for the five-hour interrogation she endured from authorities at the U.S. border, she stated.

In anticipation of President-elect Donald Trump’s possible reinstitution of a travel ban in 2025, numerous international students are voicing their concerns and distress regarding what this ban could entail for their travel commitments. 

A number of universities throughout the U.S. — including the University of Southern California and Cornell University — already advised their international students this January to modify their winter break travel arrangements, suggesting they return prior to Jan. 13 and Jan. 21st, respectively. 

Although international students at Northwestern did not receive similar guidance due to the early commencement of the quarter system, a University representative indicated that the Office of International Student and Scholar Services is continually monitoring domestic and global developments and formulating plans for potential scenarios in response to official immigration policy changes.

With airport security already conducting comprehensive port of entry inspections and passport checks, Sodeifi remarked that she is apprehensive that returning home may become even more challenging following Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

“Upon my return (to the U.S.), they detained me and searched all my belongings,” Sodeifi recounted her experience at O’Hare International Airport. “They escorted me to another room and interrogated me about everything,” she added.

Upon entry to the U.S., international students are required to have their I-20 documentation on hand and respond to any inquiries posed by Transportation Security Administration officers. Failure to respond to questions from non-citizen visa holders could lead to denial of entry, as per the American Civil Liberties Union. 

Sodeifi expressed feeling “very irritated” during the inspection because she holds dual Canadian citizenship, but sensed that her Persian heritage caused her to be treated differently. 

“They inquired why I was coming to America, whether I have any family here, my financial standing, and similar questions,” Sodeifi shared. “I provided all the necessary documentation, so it appeared excessive.” 

In 2017, Trump instituted Travel Ban 3.0, which subsequently imposed visa and entry limitations on travelers from numerous Middle Eastern and Asian nations, including Syria and Iran. 

Medill freshman Ali Mohammad, hailing from Syria, mentioned that he is already encountering travel limitations since F-1 student visas are granted for only 90 days to Syrian nationals. With his visa expiring in October, he can lawfully remain in the U.S. but is unable to return to Syria, he clarified. 

“Looking ahead to the next four years, I definitely intend to keep a low profile,” Mohammad stated. “I lack the courage to go anywhere. I do not have the courage to leave the U.S. or participate in any study abroad programs.”

Mohammad indicated that this was a deliberate choice since a potential travel ban could result in a complete inability to renew his F-1 visa should he leave the country. 

After Trump asserted during his 2024 presidential campaign that he would reinstate a travel ban “even more extensive than before,” students expressed concerns that the forthcoming policy might impact even more nations and further restrict the number of international students admitted to U.S. institutions. 

“I might remain here through the summer,” Sodeifi remarked. “It’s not ideal because I want to visit my friends and family and return to my hometown, but (the potential travel ban) alters the plans I had made previously.”

Some international students from countries not included in the previous travel ban — such as Greece and Brazil — also shared feelings of uncertainty regarding what to anticipate during Trump’s second term. 

Weinberg sophomore Kalypso Tzimourtou, from Greece, stated that while she did not alter her travel arrangements following winter break, her brother — an international student at Boston University — is contemplating changing to an earlier flight. 

Students also expressed their sentiments concerning their sense of belonging and safety on campus, particularly how their perceptions might have shifted since Trump was declared president-elect. 

“One moment I felt worried about my safety here was after my Brazilian community and I had painted the Rock,” said Medill freshman Yamandú Capalbo, who comes from Brazil. “We had just left, and 30 minutes later, we observed the live camera footage of the Rock, and there was a MAGA sign over Brazil’s flag. In that instant, I thought, ‘Okay, these individuals do not want me here.’” 

When queried about how NU could assist international students during this period, Sodeifi expressed a preference for the University to reach out to affected students. She articulated a desire for more clarity such as directions regarding border control and information on border documentation.

“I hoped that in the future, Northwestern would proactively contact students, particularly those from the Middle East, to facilitate travel,” Sodeifi declared. “I want to return, to see my family and friends, and be back in my hometown.” 

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