Concerns about international students are rising within the US university community as Trump’s inauguration nears
- US universities are warning international students to return to campus before Trump’s administration
- Concerns arise from the possibility of Trump reviving travel bans
- More than a dozen schools have issued advisories amid uncertainty surrounding Trump’s plans
US universities are warning international students to return to campus before January 20, 2025, due to concerns that Trump may revive travel restrictions similar to those he imposed during his first term.
There are growing reports that Trump may reinstate travel bans similar to those imposed during his first term which specifically affected immigrants from Africa and other Muslim dominated nations.
The immigration threats primarily affect students from countries previously targeted by Trump’s travel bans, rather than the over one million international students studying in the U.S.
US Universities issue warning
More than a dozen schools have issued advisories despite the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s plans.
According to CNN, many U.S. universities are advising international students, particularly those from countries like China, India, and others previously affected by Trump’s travel bans, to return before the spring semester begins.
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These advisories warn of potential delays or the introduction of new travel restrictions.
Some institutions, like the University of Southern California and Wesleyan University, have even set specific return deadlines, such as January 13 and January 19, respectively.
Some institutions, such as Harvard, recommend a return before the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
To minimize potential disruptions, universities like Cornell are advising international students from affected countries to return early.
Cornell University’s Office of Global Learning advised students who are travelling abroad to return before the January 21 start of the spring semester or to “communicate with an advisor about your travel plans and be prepared for delays.”
“A travel ban is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration,” the university warned students late last month.
Trump’s travel ban
Donald Trump’s presidency was marked by a notable travel ban that initially targeted seven predominantly Muslim countries: Iran, Libya, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.
This policy, introduced in 2017, restricted travel to the United States for citizens of these nations.
The travel ban underwent several revisions, with some countries being removed and others added. Notably, the ban was extended to include several African countries, such as Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan and Tanzania.
However, President Joe Biden reversed this policy shortly after taking office in 2021, revoking the travel ban and effectively reopening the country’s borders to citizens of the affected nations.
During one of his campaigns, Trump announced that if he re-elected, he would reinstate and extend a travel ban on individuals from predominantly Muslim countries, halt refugee resettlements, and aggressively deport those he labels as having “jihadist sympathies.”
In his defense, Trump cited the recent deadly Hamas attacks in Israel, using them to underscore concerns about potential threats to the US.
African students in the US
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decline in international student enrollment in the US between 2020 and 2021.
However, the latest Open Doors report reveals a substantial rebound, with an 11.5% increase in international students in the 2022-23 academic year, totaling 1,057,188.
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Sub-Saharan Africa saw a notable surge, with an 18% increase in students studying in the US.
Nigeria topped the list, sending 17,160 students – a 22% increase and a 117% growth over the past nine years.
Other countries in the region also made significant contributions, including Ghana (6,468), Kenya (4,059), Ethiopia (over 3,000), and South Africa (over 2,700).
Several nations, such as Cameroon, DRC, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Cote d’Ivoire, had over 1,000 students enrolled in US institutions.
