As President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration draws near, many college students in the U.S. are feeling anxious about their futures—especially international students.
The fear stems from Trump’s promise to tighten immigration policies, including expanding the controversial travel ban from his first term. This could impact over 1.1 million international students currently enrolled in U.S. colleges, many of whom are worried about another travel ban.
Some universities, like Cornell, have already taken action to protect their international students. They’ve advised students traveling abroad to return to campus before January 21, just one day after Trump’s swearing-in. Cornell warns that a new travel ban could go into effect soon after, affecting countries that were previously targeted like Iran, Syria, and Venezuela. They also mention that countries like China and India could be added to the list.
At the University of Southern California (USC), officials are telling students to return by January 13 to avoid any potential travel disruptions. While there’s no certainty that a new ban will happen, USC says it’s better to be safe than sorry.
For many students like 23-year-old Pramath Pratap Misra from India, the uncertainty is overwhelming. “It’s a scary time,” he says, reflecting the worries shared by many students around the world.
With a potential storm of changes ahead, international students are bracing for what comes next, hoping for the best while preparing for the worst.
