A wave of uncertainty is spreading across college campuses among international students ahead of President-elect Donald Trump taking office. Concerns about potential travel bans and tightened immigration policies are sparking new warnings.
China’s Consulate General is advising students to think twice about leaving the country over the holiday and said students should “try to reduce unnecessary cross-border travel.”
The alert comes after Trump targeted Chinese student visas during his first term. His administration focused on those deemed “security risks” to American scientific research, including Chinese graduate students and post-grad researchers with close ties to the country’s defense industry.
U.S. State Department data shows more than 1,000 Chinese nationals had their visas taken away in 2020 over those concerns.
When President Joe Biden took office in 2021, he reversed several of Trump’s executive actions, including a ban on citizens entering the U.S. from predominantly Muslim countries, which Trump has vowed to reinstate.
Despite Biden’s reversals, Chinese students still face challenges like visa denials and entry bans under Trump-era policies.
Along with China’s recent warning, at least a dozen U.S. universities from California to New York are recommending students return to campus before Trump’s inauguration.
Administrators at the University of Southern California urged foreign students in an email.
“While there’s no certainty such orders will be issued, the safest way to avoid any challenges is to be physically present in the U.S. before the Spring semester begins on January 13, 2025,” the USC Office of International Service said.
Cornell University also warned about possible restrictions. Officials told students to let their advisers know about their plans and be prepared for delays if they did plan to travel abroad.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, there were more than 1.1 million international students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities.
