U.S. Universities urge International students to return amid travel ban concerns

Amid growing fears of stringent immigration policies under president-elect Donald Trump, universities across the United States have urged international students to return from winter break before his inauguration on January 20.

The advice follows Trump’s repeated promises to reintroduce a travel ban and implement hardline immigration measures.

During his first administration, Trump imposed a travel ban that left many international students stranded abroad. This time, universities are taking proactive steps to ensure their students avoid similar predicaments.

Cornell University’s Office of Global Learning issued a stark warning to its international students in late November: “A travel ban is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration.

The ban may include citizens of countries targeted in the first Trump administration, such as Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Sudan, Tanzania, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Somalia. New countries, including China and India, could also be added to this list.”

Similarly, the University of Southern California, which hosts over 17,000 international students, urged them to return to the U.S. at least one week before Trump’s swearing-in ceremony.

These warnings coincide with Trump’s appointment of Stephen Miller, known for his hardline views on immigration, as deputy chief of staff for policy.

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Miller previously served as a senior adviser during Trump’s first term and played a key role in shaping the administration’s controversial immigration policies.

Trump’s recent rhetoric has amplified concerns within the international student community.

Among his proposed actions is a renewed travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries and the revocation of student visas for individuals deemed “radical anti-American and antisemitic.”

While international students face potential hurdles in the U.S., interest from countries like Nigeria remains high.

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A U.S. government report recently highlighted Nigeria as the seventh-largest source of international students globally, with 20,029 Nigerian students currently enrolled—making it the highest source from Africa.

This surge comes as the United Kingdom, another favored destination for Nigerian students, tightens immigration policies.

Trump’s earlier promises to grant automatic green cards to skilled foreign graduates add further complexity to the situation. However, his campaign has clarified that such policies would include stringent vetting to exclude individuals perceived as threats.

As Trump’s return to the White House looms, uncertainty prevails, leaving international students grappling with the implications of forthcoming immigration changes.

Universities continue to emphasize the urgency of early travel, ensuring students can safeguard their educational pursuits in the U.S.