US Universities Warn International Students to Return to Campus Before Trump's Term Due to Re-Entry Risks
Universities warn students to avoid travel abroad during Trump's term to ensure re-entry.
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US colleges warn international students to return to campus before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office.
The warning pertains more to changes in immigration policy that could deter students who are undocumented or have visas from being allowed to re-enter the country if they travel abroad.
According to BBC, emails and advisories have been sent out, targeting especially students who are undocumented or hold visas. Many universities, such as the University of Massachusetts, MIT, and Wesleyan, have been advising their students to return from winter break early so they do not get caught up in any complications.
Currently, more than 400,000 undocumented students are enrolled in US higher education, and many more attend with visas.
Trump's Education Policies on International Students
Trump has promised the largest deportation operation in history and has hinted that he will be strict on immigration. In his previous presidency, Trump imposed travel bans on several predominantly Muslim countries and proposed limits on student visas.
Even though his new administration said that deportation of criminals and security threats are the primary focuses, students and universities are concerned about its impact on international education. Some fear that their visas would put them at risk of being denied entry back into the country or even deported.
NDTV reported that universities like Yale have led webinars, while others issue advisories "out of an abundance of caution."
Students from China and Japan, in particular, have been anxious, amid frayed relations with the US, asking themselves if they will be able to complete their education in the country. The same issue has been raised by students who were brought to the country as children, under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which Trump previously tried to end. But now, universities are encouraging these students to prepare for possible program changes, considering that most of the Congress are Republicans.
While the exact changes in immigration policies toward Trump are vague, universities seem to take the initiative to prepare international students for this change. Returning to campus before the new policy implementation could avoid complications and safeguard the continuation of their academic journey.
