An increasing number of U.S. colleges and universities are urging international students to return to campus ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, citing concerns that he might reintroduce travel bans similar to those enacted during his first term.
Over a dozen institutions have issued advisories, despite the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s plans. For some schools, the spring semester begins before Trump assumes office, which means many students would already need to be back on campus. However, for those relying on academic visas to remain in the United States, universities are recommending they minimize potential risks by returning before January 20th, 2025.
In January 2017, Trump signed an executive order barring citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries — Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen — from traveling to the United States. As a result, travelers from these nations were either prevented from boarding flights or detained upon arrival at U.S. airports. This group included students, faculty, business professionals, tourists, and those visiting friends and family.
Over time, Trump adjusted the list, removing some countries and adding others, with a total of 15 nations affected during his presidency. According to the U.S. State Department, the ban ultimately led to more than 40,000 visa denials. President Joe Biden repealed the orders upon taking office in 2021.
According to Open Doors, a data initiative partially funded by the U.S. State Department, more than 1.1 million international students were enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities during the 2023-24 academic year. Students from India and China made up over half of this group, while approximately 43,800 came from the 15 countries impacted by Trump’s travel bans.
As an example, Jacky Li, a third-year environmental studies major at the University of California, Berkeley, plans to travel home to China on Dec. 21 and return on Jan. 16. Although he arranged his trip months before Berkeley officials issued their advisory, he acknowledged the growing unease among international students.
He expressed concern, saying, “There’s a fear that this kind of restriction will enlarge into a wider community, considering the geopolitical tensions nowadays around the world.” And added that, “If the U.S. is really a champion of academic freedom, what you should do is not restrict this kind of communications between different countries of the world.”
Trump’s transition team did not address questions on the subject this week. In the past, however, he has pledged to reinstate and broaden the travel ban, vowing to introduce “ideological screening” for non-U.S. citizens to prevent entry by “dangerous lunatics, haters, bigots, and maniacs.”
