US Universities Warn: Return Before Trump’s Inauguration to Avoid Immigration Uncertainty

NewYork(The Uttam Hindu): Universities across the United States are urging international students and employees to return to campus before President-elect Donald Trump starts his second term in January 2025. The warning comes amidst growing fears of Trump's plan for massive deportations, which may target hundreds of thousands of foreign students.

As indicated by the BBC, there are travel advisories recommended from the University of Massachusetts as well as other institutions; however, some consider it wise for international students and faculty to return ahead of the inauguration. More than 400,000 undocumented students currently enrolled in U.S. higher education feel at risk because of the heightened likelihood of more stringent immigration policies. The advisory by the University of Massachusetts drew experience from previous travel bans of the first Trump Administration. The advisory, however, urges students to go cautiously. Similar sentiments were shared by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Wesleyan University. The Office of International Students and Scholars at Yale University held a webinar in addressing the rising concern among international students on changes to immigration law.

These warnings also apply to international students who are, to add insult to injury, DACA recipients as they are most vulnerable to changes in U.S. immigration policy.