CONCORD, N.H. — A rising number of U.S. colleges and universities are urging international students to return to campus before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump due to concerns about potential travel bans reminiscent of those imposed during his first term.
Over a dozen institutions have issued advisories, as the specifics of Trump’s approach remain unclear. Some schools have spring semesters commencing prior to Trump’s inauguration, necessitating students’ return. For international students reliant on academic visas, universities recommend minimizing risks by returning to campus before January 20.
Trump’s previous actions included a January 2017 executive order that banned travel to the U.S. from seven predominantly Muslim nations—Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen. This led to travelers, including students and faculty, being blocked from boarding flights or detained upon arrival in the U.S. The ban ultimately expanded to include 15 countries, resulting in over 40,000 visa denials, as reported by the U.S. State Department. The order was revoked by President Joe Biden upon his inauguration in 2021.
Currently, more than 1.1 million international students are enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities for the 2023-24 academic year. Notably, students from India and China constitute over half of this demographic, with approximately 43,800 coming from the nations previously affected by Trump’s travel restrictions.
As students prepare for winter breaks, the atmosphere of concern is palpable. One international student, Jacky Li from the University of California, Berkeley, plans to travel home to China and return shortly after the inauguration. He noted an increasing sense of anxiety among international students regarding possible restrictions.
Li emphasized the importance of academic freedom, stating that open communication between nations should be prioritized rather than curtailed.
While the Trump transition team has not addressed recent inquiries, Trump has expressed intentions to reinstate and potentially expand the travel ban. In a recent campaign event, he reiterated his commitment to heightened scrutiny of non-U.S. citizens to prevent potential security threats.
School officials are advising international students returning from winter break to arrive on campus before Inauguration Day and to brace for immigration delays. Prestigious Ivy League institutions, as well as prominent universities across the country, are among those providing guidance.
Notably, Cornell University warned that a travel ban affecting the previously targeted 13 nations could be enacted shortly after the inauguration and that additional nations, such as China and India, may be included. They cautioned affected students, faculty, and staff to return to campus prior to the semester start on January 21.
Other institutions have similarly recommended planning ahead and preparing for potential delays without explicitly predicting a forthcoming ban.
