US Universities Urge International Students to Return Before Trump's Inauguration
In an unprecedented move, several top US universities are advising their international students to return to campus before President-elect Donald J. Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025. This precautionary measure comes amid concerns that the incoming administration might implement travel restrictions similar to those seen during Trump's first term.
Harvard, the University of Southern California (USC), Cornell, and other prestigious institutions have issued advisories, anticipating potential changes in immigration policies that could affect international students. The warnings reflect growing anxiety within academic circles about the future of global education in the United States under a second Trump presidency.
Travel Ban Concerns
Cornell's Office of Global Learning has been particularly explicit in its warning. On its website, the office stated, "A travel ban is likely to go into effect soon after the inauguration. " The office urges students to return to the United States before spring semester classes begin on January 21.
The university speculates that the ban could target citizens from countries previously affected during Trump's first administration, including Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Somalia. Cornell also raised the possibility that new countries, notably China and India, could be added to this list.
This concern is not unfounded. During his previous term, Trump imposed restrictions on entry to the United States from several majority-Muslim countries, later expanding the list. At a September 2024 event, Trump reiterated his intention to "seal our border and bring back the travel ban," referencing his previous restrictions on travel from some majority-Muslim countries.
Universities Taking Precautions
Harvard University has advised international students to "Budget time ahead of the semester start, before the January Martin Luther King holiday"”
Other institutions have issued similar advisories, including the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania, and Wesleyan University.
USC, in an email to students on special visas, emphasized the importance of being present for the start of classes on January 13, stating, "This is especially important given that a new presidential administration will take office on January 20, 2025, and — as is common — may issue one or more Executive Orders impacting travel to the U.S. and visa processing."
Impact on International Student Community
The potential for new travel restrictions has created significant anxiety among international students. Sercan Candelot, director of Abrahamic Programs and adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut, shared his personal experience. Having come to the U.S. from Turkey in 2014, Candelot avoided international travel during Trump's first term and plans to do the same when Trump returns to office in January. "I will take no risk," he stated, expressing concern about potentially being unable to re-enter the U.S.
Economic and Academic Implications
The international student community is crucial to the U.S. higher education landscape and economy. According to the Institute of International Education's Open Doors 2024 report, more than 1.1 million students outside the U.S. were enrolled in American colleges and universities in the 2023-24 academic year.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators reports that these students contribute $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy.
Many international students pay significantly higher tuition fees than domestic students, often triple the amount that state residents pay.
Changing Dynamics in International Education
The potential policy changes come when the U.S. has seen shifts in international student demographics. For the first time since 2009, India overtook China as the top sending country in the 2023-24 academic year, with 331,602 Indian students pursuing higher education in the U.S., a 35% increase from the previous year.
Despite a 4% decline in students from China, it remained the second-leading country of origin and continued to be the top-sending country for undergraduates and non-degree students.
Universities' Response and Future Outlook
While some universities are issuing warnings, others are more cautious. Emory University spokesperson Sylvia Carson stated that it's premature to speculate on the new administration's policies.
Similarly, the University of Colorado Boulder and Arizona State University, which has the fourth-largest number of international students, are not issuing specific guidance now.
Jill Allen Murray, deputy executive director of public policy at NAFSA, commented on the universities' precautionary measures, saying, "It makes sense these schools would try to avoid the risk of even one student experiencing a disruption to their study."