US universities are advising international students and staff to return to campus before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January, amid widespread concerns about his plans for mass deportations.
Prof. Chloe East of the University of Colorado Denver expressed the apprehensions facing students. “All international students are worried right now,” she told the BBC, reflecting the uncertainty caused by Trump’s immigration policies.
Trump, a Republican, has pledged to implement one of the largest deportation operations in US history, potentially using the military to aid in enforcement. His administration has hinted at constructing large holding facilities for undocumented immigrants awaiting deportation.
According to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal, over 400,000 undocumented students are enrolled in US higher education institutions. While Trump’s incoming administration has stated that priority will be given to removing violent criminals and national security threats, these assurances have done little to ease concerns in academia.
“Students are incredibly overwhelmed and stressed out right now as a result of the uncertainty around immigration,” Prof. East added. “A lot of students have concerns about their visas and whether they’ll be allowed to continue their education.”
In November, the University of Massachusetts issued a travel advisory for international students and faculty, recommending they “strongly consider” returning to campus before Trump’s inauguration on January 20. The university cited lessons learned from travel bans enacted during Trump’s first term as the basis for this caution.
Trump’s controversial 2017 executive order banned nationals from several predominantly Muslim countries, as well as North Korea and Venezuela, from entering the US. During his first presidency, he also proposed restrictions on student visas.
Other institutions, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Wesleyan University, have followed suit, urging their international students and staff to return before inauguration day. Yale University recently hosted a webinar to address concerns about potential immigration policy shifts, particularly among students protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
The Obama-era DACA policy shields over half a million migrants who came to the US as children from deportation. However, Trump has repeatedly attempted to terminate the program.
The uncertainty also affects students from countries like China and Japan. Prof. East highlighted the anxiety felt by Asian students, particularly those from China, amid strained US-China relations under Trump.
Aoi Maeda, a Japanese student at Earlham College in Indiana, voiced concerns about her academic future. “I am planning to graduate in May 2026, but now that the administration is going to be a little bit more dangerous, I’m less hopeful about things going well,” she said.
Maeda fears that international students with visas might face stricter conditions. “Trump claims that he is only interested in keeping illegal immigrants out of the country, but he also tries to move the goal post a lot of times,” she noted.
As the inauguration date approaches, US universities continue to issue guidance aimed at safeguarding their international students and staff during a time of heightened uncertainty.
Sourced from the BBC and published by WINS Media Ghana – Bringing you global stories that matter.
