As Donald Trump prepares for his return to the White House, universities across the United States are advising international students to return to the U.S. before his inauguration on January 20, citing concerns about potential visa complications and increased restrictions under his administration.
These warnings are rooted in fears that the new administration may revive restrictive immigration policies similar to those enacted during Trump’s first term.
The University of California-Berkeley has issued a statement emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding the situation, recalling the travel ban imposed during Trump’s previous presidency.
This ban disrupted the travel plans of many students. “Whether such policies will be implemented again and/or blocked by the courts or via other means is unclear.
Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending a return to the United States prior to January 20,” the university noted on its international student website.
Cornell University’s Office of Global Learning echoed this caution, warning that a new travel ban could be implemented shortly after Trump’s inauguration.
The office specifically pointed to the possibility of the ban targeting countries affected during Trump’s first term, such as Nigeria, Sudan, and Myanmar. “For students from these countries, the safest option is to return to the U.S. before the term begins on January 21,” the statement read.
Columbia University has also advised students to remain vigilant, with spokesperson Samantha Slater saying that the institution is “gathering relevant information on the incoming administration” while urging students to avoid potential delays by returning to campus before the start of the semester.
The concern stems from the previous policies enacted during Trump’s first term, including the highly controversial “Muslim ban,” which blocked citizens from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S.
Additionally, in the wake of recent protests regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict, Trump has threatened to revoke the visas of individuals he has labeled as “radical anti-American and anti-Semitic foreigners.”
One international student from Nigeria shared their anxiety over the situation: “We’ve seen what happened during his first term, and it’s hard not to feel anxious. Returning before the inauguration seems like the safest move,” the student said.
Though Trump has occasionally voiced support for legal immigration—suggesting in a June interview that international students should receive green cards upon graduation—the rising anti-immigrant sentiment within the Republican Party has left many students uneasy about the future.
With January 20 approaching, universities are urging international students to take precautionary steps and return to the U.S. ahead of the inauguration to avoid potential complications.
