CONCORD, N.H. — An increasing number of colleges and universities across the United States are encouraging international students to return to campus before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. This recommendation is driven by fears that Trump may reintroduce travel restrictions similar to those implemented during his first term.
Several institutions have released advisories amidst uncertainty about Trump’s policies. For many students, the spring semester commences prior to Trump’s inauguration, necessitating their return to campus. However, for those reliant on academic visas to remain in the country, institutions advise minimizing potential risks by returning before January 20.
Historically, Trump enacted an executive order in January 2017 that banned travel to the U.S. from seven predominantly Muslim countries: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen. Citizens from these nations faced prohibitions on boarding flights or were detained upon arrival in the U.S. This included students, educators, business professionals, tourists, and those visiting friends and family. Over the course of his presidency, the list of affected countries fluctuated, encompassing a total of 15 nations, resulting in over 40,000 visa denials—though President Joe Biden overturned these restrictions upon taking office in 2021.
Currently, over 1.1 million international students are enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities for the 2023-24 academic year, as reported by Open Doors, a data initiative backed in part by the U.S. State Department. Students from India and China represent more than half of this demographic, with around 43,800 originating from the 15 countries previously impacted by travel bans.
Jacky Li, a third-year environmental studies major at the University of California, Berkeley, is set to travel home to China on December 21, returning on January 16. While his travel plans were established prior to the advisory from Berkeley officials, he notes a rising anxiety among international students. “There’s a fear that this kind of restriction will enlarge into a wider community due to the current geopolitical tensions worldwide,” Li remarked. He expressed a desire for Trump to promote, rather than hinder, crucial academic research, advocating that the true essence of academic freedom lies in facilitating global communication.
As for Trump’s intentions moving forward, his transition team has remained silent on related inquiries this week. However, he has previously indicated a willingness to resurrect and possibly broaden the travel ban, suggesting the establishment of new “ideological screening” processes for non-U.S. citizens to prevent the entry of individuals he labels as “dangerous lunatics, haters, bigots and maniacs.” During an October 2023 campaign rally in Iowa, he stated, “We aren’t bringing in anyone from Gaza, Syria, Somalia, Yemen or Libya or anywhere else that threatens our security.” Additionally, Trump committed to withdrawing student visas from foreigners perceived as “radical anti-American and anti-Semitic” who are present in U.S. educational institutions.
In response to these developments, schools have advised international students returning home for the winter break to return before Inauguration Day and prepare for potential immigration delays. This guidance comes from a variety of institutions, including Ivy League schools like Harvard and Brown, as well as Northeastern University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Southern California. Some universities have classes scheduled for the day after Inauguration Day.
Cornell University explicitly warned its students that a travel ban affecting the 13 countries previously targeted by Trump “is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration” and mentioned the possibility of new countries being added, particularly China and India. The university urged students, faculty, and staff from these nations to return to campus before the semester begins on January 21. Other institutions have taken a more cautious approach, advising students to prepare for the unexpected and plan accordingly.