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Washington:
US universities are preparing for potential challenges as President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration is almost here, raising concerns among international students. With 1.1 million international students in the US for the 2023-2024 academic year, several institutions are taking steps to minimize possible problems.
Some of the colleges have advised international students to return to campus before Trump's January 20 inauguration. This precaution is driven by fears of a new travel ban, similar to the one implemented during Trump’s previous presidency, which left many students stranded overseas.
Although India and China are not currently on Trump's list of targeted countries, universities remain alert. A notice from Cornell University pointed out that countries like China and India may be added to the list in the coming future. This warning is very important since India has overtaken China in sending international students to the US, with 330,000 students getting enrolled in the 2023-2024 academic year.
Trump’s attitude on immigration has increased fears among international students. His plans are to expand travel bans on individuals from Muslim-majority nations such as Iran, Libya, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and revoking visas for "radical anti-American and antisemitic foreigners." Anyways, Trump has also stated that foreign nationals graduating from US institutions could receive "automatic" green cards, pending Congressional approval.
In light of these unexpected situations, universities are proactively responding. According to CNN, the University of Southern California, which hosts over 17,000 international students, has advised students to return to the US a week before Trump’s inauguration, stating potential executive orders that could impact travel and visa processes.