University Students Affected By Trump's Travel Ban Express Concerns Over Halted Studies

A lot of international students from various universities and colleges have been affected by President Trump's immigration ban. They are worried that they may be deported without warning and may not be able to complete their studies.

It was previously reported that President Trump's executive order suspends entry for 90 days from certain Muslim-majority nations based on statute related to the Visa Waiver Program. Individuals from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen will not be allowed entry from the nation. Several colleges and universities have risen up to defend undocumented students. 17 higher education institutions have signed a court challenge on President Trump's immigration policy.

The brief was filed in a civil action sought by the attorney general of New York and several others in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The order has been stayed due to the pending resolution of another case that challenged President Trump's immigration ban in Washington State.

CNBC reported that President Trump's travel ban executive order has left several immigrant students in a state of limbo. Stanford University PhD candidate Mostafa Afkhamizadeh said that he hopes the ban will not be extended beyond 90 days. He was initially banned from coming back to California after traveling from his home country Iran.

He traveled to Iran on Jan. 19 but was stopped from entering the U.S. due to President Trump's travel ban executive order. Afkhamizadeh, along with thousands of other U.S. green card and visa holders, are now trying to get back.

He expressed his concern about further changes in the policy or a revised executive order during his visa process. He has admitted that it is highly likely that he will terminate his doctoral program if a new order is upheld.

The ban has affected over 16,600 students in the U.S. According to The Huffington Post, President Trump's executive order has had negative impacts in academia, medicine, business and tech.

One researcher from Iran, Esmat Fathi, 28, would have already started her research on Alzheimer's disease at the University of Memphis if not for the travel ban. She was ready to join a lab run by Dr. Ramin Homayouni.